DU Clarion Volume 121 Issue 12

DU@150: A HISTORY OF WOMEN AT DU | Page 4 University of Denver student newspaper since 1899

Vol. 121, Issue 12

april 23, 2014

www.duclarion.com

Opera explores love and lust Subway opens after several-month delay After a year of closure and various renovations, Subway opens by gigi peccolo Contributing Writer

gusto kubiak

| clarion

Cast and ensemble members look on as Il Commendatore (Tim Sirinunthikul) lies dead in the opera Don Giovanni, which played at DU from April 17 to April 20.

SEE don giovanni, PAGE 5

Administration examines arming DCS News Editor

The administrative discussion about arming the Department of Campus Safety (DCS) continued at the Board of Trustees meeting last Friday, April 18. The Building and Grounds Committee presented a report compiled by KRW Associates LLC, but they were not ready to make a recommendation one way or the other, according to Vice Chancellor of Business and Financial Affairs Craig Woody.

While a decision was not reached on Friday, the subcommittee will review the issue and present additional information and insight in May. “We will continue to take this under advisement,” said Woody. “It’s a very important decision and it will clearly be made by the full Board of Trustees. It isn’t a decision that any one person or any one level can make, because it impacts everybody.”

Woody said it was important to hire an outside con-

sulting firm because they can provide expertise that administration cannot. KRW Associates LLC specializes in public sector executive searches and organizational consulting.

The principals of KRW Associates are Lorne C. Kramer, former Chief of Police in Colorado Springs; Fred Rainguet, former Chief of Police in Fort Collins; and Jerry Williams, former Chief of Police in Arvada and Aurora.

“If you’re not already an armed force, you should have the best insight and research available to you from someone who has done it at that level,” said Woody. “They have relationships with city attorneys and they know their counterparts across the country.”

Woody emphasized that the report is only one of several things the board is taking into consideration.

“The ultimate decision must remain with the board,” said Woody. “It’s not the consultant’s decision. They can only give us the pros and cons.”

According to Woody, there are many institutions

going in the direction of arming campus safety. After school shootings across the U.S., campuses have responded with their campus safety.

“It’s not a black and white issue,” said Woody. “There are risks associated with doing it, and there are risks associated with not doing it. That’s what the board is taking under consideration now.”

Sgt. Stephen Banet of DCS said that he has heard mixed opinions from the university community about the issue.

“There’s a lot of interest in this,” said Banet. “The question comes up a lot, and I’ve heard both sides. It’s a mixed bag of opinions.”

Woody explained that the decision depends on the university’s expectations for DCS. “If you want them to have the ability to respond to any incident, you have one answer. If you just want them to observe and report, you have another answer,” he said.

Will Denver ban booze in Washington Park?

OPINONS | Page 12

SEE dcs, PAGE 2

QUOTABLE

by carli hansen

After over a year of remodeling and several months of delays, Subway opened for regular business hours last Monday, April 21.

The restaurant also held a limited opening last week.

Sodexo’s Resident District Manager Ira Simon said Monday’s opening was “much busier than [last Wednesday’s],” with business picking up around lunchtime.

“We know that it’s going to take some time for students and faculty to realize that we are open at 7:30 a.m.,” said Simon. “As students realize that we are open for regular hours, I think we’re going to see more business.”

Last Wednesday, the restaurant held an inviteonly opening. Devin Brock, Sodexo’s retail manager, said they made more than 260 sandwiches over the course of two hours.

“Sometimes you invite people for free food and they’re like, ‘yeah, sure, I guess I’ll show up,’ but people really came out,” said Brock of Wednesday’s opening. “It went perfect. [The staff ] didn’t miss a step, which is wonderful.”

On April 17 and 18, the restaurant held a soft opening for the public, running limited hours from 7:30 a.m.

- 2 p.m.

“We’ve been having postproduction meetings and kind of just going over all of the little things that didn’t work quite as well and how to be friendlier, more approachable and talk about promotions,” said Brock.

Brock said it is a “stress reliever” to finally be open.

“You build up to this event where everybody’s just

“My life has been changed forever because of rugby.”

SPORTS | Page 16

like, ‘When’s it going to open, when’s it going to happen?’” said Brock. “Then you just think to yourself, ‘God, I hope we don’t screw up.’”

Brock says that overall, feedback from the students and faculty has generally been positive.

“We’ve had some faculty members say that, you know, ‘We’re going to eat here every day, I want to be like Jared [from the Subway commercials],’” said Brock. “People are saying things like, ‘It’s so great to have more healthy options and things like that on campus.’”

Several students who visited the restaurant on the first day agreed.

“It’s definitely nice having other options from the dining halls or library café,” said freshman Paolo Manalo, an international studies major.

“It was a very long wait but it’s worth it,” said junior Evan Boucher, a computer science major.

The restaurant is working with a trainer for its first 10 days in operation to make sure everything goes off without a hitch, according to Brock. “[They’re there] to make sure that we not only have our staff up to their expectations but that we meet the customer expectations,” said Brock.

Students and faculty can also expect to see some familiar faces at Subway.

“We’ve got some new employees as well as a couple employees that have worked at other locations at DU, so some people will recognize some of the employees as well,” said Brock. “You’ll definitely find a very, very approachable staff.”

Simon said the process of opening the restaurant was a “long haul” but that he looked forward to the restaurant’s future.

“I think Subway’s going to be real popular and I think it’s a win-win for everybody,” said Simon.

2,239

Number of individual tree specimens in the DU arboretum

2

April 23, 2014

www.duclarion.com

African refugees voice experience First annual Mental Health Day aims where I grew up. No one had peace in their lives,” said Salah. “In America you have a choice to choose what you Three African refugees shared want in life. You can get an education their stories in Davis Auditorium last and have the freedom to do whatever Tuesday, April 14. The three refugees, you would like.” two male and one female, shared their The next speaker was Tahani memories of escaping the civil war in Mohamed, a 17-year-old girl from Burundi and the genocide in Sudan.

Darfur, Sudan. Mohamed moved to The presentation was hosted the U.S. with her family in 2010 when by the African Community Center she was 14. She is about to graduate (ACC) in Denver. The from South High School refugees said the ACC and plans to attend the has had a hugely posiUniversity of North tive impact on their lives, Carolina on scholarship from helping them learn in the fall.

English to placing them Mohamed started in apartments. The refubreaking down on stage gees expressed thanks for when she recalled seeing having that resource. people that she knew The presentations murdered during the began with an introducSudanese genocide. She tion from Professor Hawa Salah, detailed the struggle to Courtney Welton-Mitch- Refugee from Sudan get water and the pain of ell. She commented on not knowing where her the diversity in the crowd and gave a father currently is or if he is even dead few facts about global refugees and the or alive. life they face.

The last speaker was George SerAccording to Welton-Mitchell, wenda from Burundi. Serwenda fled only one percent of all refugees in his country multiple times between the globe resettle in countries such as 1972 and 1993, finally fleeing to Tanthe U.S. The countries with the most zania in 1993, where he lived as a refurefugees currently living in the U.S. gee until he resettled with his family in are Bhutan, Burma, Iraq and Somalia. 2008. George works as a case manager She also touched on the current crisis at the ACC, the agency that helped in Syria, stating that over five million settle him and the other speakers. He people have been externally displaced. is now a U.S. citizen.

The first refugee to speak was About 250 people attended the Hawa Salah from Sudan. When she presentations, including DU students, was 15, she and her family fled to Egypt professors and current ACC members. where they lived and worked for five The presentations started at 6:30 and years. In 2009 she moved to Denver ran until 8:45. Before the presentations with her family. She is now working at started, attendees were invited to enjoy the ACC’s Safari Thrift shop and has a light refreshments and look over a few husband and two children.

ACC related vendors outside the audi“Life [in Sudan] is different. torium. A donation was recommended Totally different. Life was really hard for admittance.

by logan baker Assistant Editor

“Life was really hard where I grew up. No one had peace in their lives.”

U S G

U p d a t e s

Check here for weekly updates from the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Highlights from April 15, 2014 Provost Gregg Kvistad spoke at this week’s meeting about the campus atmosphere and the role of himself and Chancellor Robert Coombe. Kvistad said the administration is interested in deploying an alumni service next year to measure jobs, community engagement, financial security and happiness of DU alumni. Kvistad is also interested in the creation of an alumni event to serve all graduating seniors, rather than serving separate departments.

USG campaigns for positions will be held throughout the week, including the presidential debate on Wednesday, April 23 in Davis Auditorium at 7 p.m.

The committee passed Bill 16, which allocated $6000 to the DU Club Rugby for added travel expenses, given their advancement in the National Tournament.

The committee tabled Bill 17, which would allocate up to $2,000 to the Senior Class Council in their efforts to create a lasting memory and a united senior class through their end of year events.

More information on the above bills can be found at http://news.duclarion.com/category/usg/

USG meetings are held every Tuesday night in the Anderson Academic Commons Special Events Room.

They are open to the public.

Information courtesy of the USG.

to reduce stigmas, provide resources by makayla cisneros Contributing Writer

DU MIND, the Department of Psychology, the Health and Counseling Center (HCC) and the Center for Multicultural Excellence hosted the first annual DU Mental Health Day on Thursday, April 17.

The DU Mental Health day was focused on reducing stigma around mental health issues and providing students an environment to openly talk about these issues. The event featured a Keurig giveaway, free food, t-shirts and wristbands. It also allowed students to participate in stress and wellness check-ins. The event included a reception leading into a screening of an original documentary that featured DU students and faculty telling their own stories.

DU MIND is an organization that was founded in September 2013.

Their main goal is to break down stigmas surrounding mental health, according to sophomore Amanda Pennington, co-president and founder of DU MIND. According to Pennington, Colorado has the reputation of being a healthy state, but it also has the highest suicide rate. DU MIND hopes to get de-stigmatize mental health so that people will not be afraid to get help.

“The stigma comes from fear and misunderstanding. Instead of how they see it in the movies, we want people to understand it more through education,” said Pennington. “Another thing that keeps it stigmatized is not talking about it. So we really want to bring it to the forefront and start those conversations. You just have to talk about it and acknowledge it, which is what we were trying to achieve with the event.”

Jacaranda Palmateer, director of counseling at HCC, helped collaborate with DU MIND. Palmateer helped with scheduling volunteers for the mental health screenings and took part in the organization process.

According to Palmateer, other events similar to the Mental Health Day have been held on campus, including stress workshops and depression screening days. However, the Mental Health Day was the first event to focus on promoting awareness and reducing stigma around mental health issues.

“We really wanted to just have a day where students could be open and speak about mental health issues,” said Palmateer.

According to Palmateer, stigma regarding mental health issues could keep people from seeking out the help that they need.

“I think what’s hard is that a lot of people think that they are going to be judged more than they are,” said Palmateer. “When people seek help they need, they have a high success rate, especially on a campus. They’re just scared that they are going to be judged.

We really want people to get help when they need it or even get it proactively.”

As part of the Mental Health Day screenings, students were asked to complete a 23-question survey and then they were able to speak to a counselor about their results. An estimated 200-250 students completed the screening, although exact numbers have not yet been calculated, according to Palmateer.

The DU Mental Health day was the first event hosted by DU MIND that included co-programming with other organizations, according to Pennington. It was also larger than any event DU MIND has hosted before.

“The event couldn’t have gone better,” said Pennington. “The outpouring of support and collaboration of the different departments really made [this event] different than others we’ve put on. We had a lot of advertising and really worked as a team.”

According to Palmateer, the event also allowed students to understand what resources are available to them on campus. The HCC provides $10 sessions of counseling for most undergraduates and graduates, and is also able to refer students to other resources on campus, as well as get students connected to resources for mental disabilities.

DU MIND hopes to continue hosting events such as the DU Mental Health Day and expand their ability to spread awareness and education beyond the DU community, according to Pennington.

“DU is our home. But stigma is still here,” said Pennington. “Our focus is geared towards changing it on a large scale as well, including the Denver community and even farther to all of Colorado, as far as we can go to get those conversations started.”

Pennington said DU MIND is always accepting new members. The group meets at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays behind Jazzman’s. Interested parties may also contact Pennington at amanda.r.pennington@gmail.com.

New Dean of AHSS announced by sarah ford Managing Editor On Monday afternoon, Chancellor Robert Coombe and Provost Gregg Kvistad sent out an email announcement to students, staff and faculty that Dr. Daniel McIntosh has been hired as the new dean of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) Department. He will assume the position on July 1, 2014.

“Danny is an extraordinary teacher, scholar and engaged member of the University community,” the email said.

McIntosh came to DU as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology in 1992 before earning full tenure and an associate professor position in 1999. He became chair of the Department of Psychology in 2012, and has been involved in Inclusive Excellence initiatives on campus.

During his time at DU, McIntosh has received the William T. Driscoll Master Educator Award in 2004, United Methodist Church University Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award

in 2008 and the Center for Multicultural Excellence Outstanding Faculty Member Award in 2009.

“This is an astonishing record of accomplishment in all of the areas that constitute the lives of faculty members at the University of Denver,” the email said. “It prepares Danny very well to assume the deanship of the Divisions of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences.”

McIntosh was selected as Dean by a committee of 12 members, including faculty members, university trustees and a member of the AHSS Advisory Board. The selection process began in January, and the final candidates were interviewed on campus at the beginning of this month.

“As we know, higher education generally, and the liberal arts particularly, face enormous challenges and opportunities in the next five years,” the email said. “Danny’s achievements at the University, and the extraordinary level of trust he has among his faculty and staff colleagues make him an excellent choice to lead this large, complex, and institutionally vital academic unit at the University.”

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April 23, 2014

www.duclarion.com

CAPE hosts events for Sexual Assault Awareness Week by makayla cisneros Contributing Writer The Center for Advocacy, Prevention and Empowerment (CAPE), part of the Health and Counseling Center (HCC), is co-sponsoring a week of featured events for Sexual Assault Awareness Week (SAAW) from April 21-25. The events this year are geared towards inclusive excellence, and tying national and international movements to the DU campus.

The week includes days to dress differently in order to show support and awareness, acclaimed speakers and challenges leading up to the final event, the Consent Carnival, which will take place on Thursday, April 24. Co-sponsors of SAAW include the Relationship Equality Anti-Violence League, USG Diversity Committee, Greek Council, PIORadio, Social Sustainability Task Force, Alpha Phi Omega, DU Programming Board and the Department of Campus Safety.

According to Gillian Kaag, program director for CAPE, the events are geared towards bringing attention to national movements such as International Denim Day and the Clothesline Project, and localizing them to the DU campus.

According to the SAAW page on the HCC website, the Clothesline Project started as a means for women who have been affected by violence to express themselves by decorating a t-shirt. Then the shirts are hung on clotheslines to display in order to raise awareness about sexual violence, hate crimes and child abuse.

On Tuesday, April 22 in Davis Auditorium there will be a Take Back the Night event. Take Back the Night is an extension of a movement that began in the 1970s in Germany in response to a series of sexual assaults and murders, according to the SAAW page. Dr. Caroline Heldman will speak at DU’s Take Back the Night event with a presentation titled “The Sexy Lie: Hidden Harms of Sexual Objectification and What We Can Do About It.”

Heldman is the chair of the Politics Department at Occidental College in Los Angeles. She has been involved in the documentary “Miss Representation” and co-edited “Rethinking Madame President: Are We Ready for a Woman in the White House?” Heldman is also a commentator on radio and television.

“We are excited to bring in such a nationally recognized speaker. She will speak about identifying the problem with consent and provide concrete actions we can do as a community to end sexual violence,” said Kaag.

Heldman will also participate in the Take Back the Night march led by the Pioneer Leadership Program (PLP).

Wednesday, April 23 is International Denim Day. Students are encouraged to wear denim to class and work to promote awareness. According to the SAAW page, Denim Day is an international protest that began after the Italian Supreme Court overruled a rape conviction on the premise that jeans are too difficult to remove and the assailant would not have been able to do so without the victim’s assistance.

Also on Wednesday, HCC’s CAPE and DU’s Intramural Sports are collaborating on the first annual Denim Day Intramural Sports Challenge. The event is taking place at the new Diane Wendt Sports Fields (north of the soccer stadium) from 7-10 p.m. Co-ed kickball teams will be playing to the best of their ability in denim.

“We really wanted to get DU students aware and involved in national and popular campaigns [such as] Denim Day,” said Kaag. “We’ve had an interest in reaching out to sports, so we reached out to the Intramural Club and asked if they were interested in co-partnering the event with us. We wanted a fun way to give recognition to a really important day.”

Finally, on Thursday, April 24 there will be a Consent Carnival from 12-4 p.m. on Driscoll Green, including food, entertainment, prizes and music. According to

the SAAW page, the event will be focused on educating members of the DU community on the importance of consent, as well as how to ask for and give consent in their relationships.

The Carnival will feature various DU groups running booths and activities. According to Kaag, CAPE wanted to provide DU organizations with an opportunity to highlight specific groups, but also to tie the event into the DU community. The booths will feature various activities geared towards the Carnival’s overall theme of consent, according to Kaag, and many booths and activities will have prizes.

“The booths are designed to be fun but also to educate,” said Kaag. “For example, students can win prizes for debunking rape myths, [which are] things like depending on what you wear or if you’re too drunk to give consent.”

Several of these rape myths are also de-bunked on posters that have been featured around campus as part of the “Be a BOSS” campaign. The posters feature rape myths to draw attention and then quotes to de-bunk them, according to Kaag.

Kaig said this is the second year that the Consent Carnival is being hosted due to its popularity last year.

“We’re really putting an emphasis on inclusive excellence this year,” said Kaag.

“We would like to continue hosting it as long as it’s something that will attract students and that they can enjoy. Last year the ‘Consent is Sexy’ t-shirts were really popular so we wanted to continue it.”

However, Kaag says CAPE will adjust future events in order to meet the needs of the community and provide students with events they want to attend.

“We are really excited about doing all of the programming and hope students will come out to the event,” said Kaag.

“We are open to meeting the needs of our students and would love feedback about what students want to see and do on our website or on our Facebook.”

Woody said he believes the board would like to have a recommendation from the subcommittee by June. If the decision is to move forward, they could conduct outreach in the fall when students come back to school, and implement the arming in January.

“The outreach needs to be robust, and there needs to be as many different points of outreach as possible,” said Woody. “You have to take everything into consideration. You’re looking at everybody who constitutes the university community on any given day.”

Banet said he has not heard any new information regarding the process, but Woody said it was unlikely that DCS would be involved in the process after they made their initial recommendation.

“When you have an issue that is controversial, you want to make sure the analysis by outside experts is as objective and independent and thorough as possible,” said Woody. “The process is not framed by Campus Safety. They made a recommendation and now they are letting the board go through their process.”

by carli hansen News Editor

Thursday, April 24, 12-4 p.m.

Driscoll Green Graduate Women’s Council: “I Love a Sexual Assault Survivor” HYPE: Sexual Assault Awareness Obstacle Course Native Student Alliance: Trivia Pi Lambda Chi: Trivia Queer Straight Alliance: LGBT Awareness Social Sustainability Task Force: Consent Jenga Student Conduct: Consent and the Honor Code Sudaya: Art Awareness for Nepal Relationship Equality AntiViolence League: Trivia Wheel

Trustees discuss guns for DCS USG shoots for diversity photos Continued from page 1

Meanwhile, Banet emphasized the role of DCS as first responders to incidents on campus.

“It makes sense to give the first responders the tools they need to do their jobs,” he said. “We deal with people a lot of times who have warrants for their arrest. Sometimes they’re armed, not necessarily with guns, but with knives and so on. Those are the kind of people we’re dealing with.”

According to Woody, if the Building and Grounds Committee recommends that the board moves forward with arming DCS, there will be community outreach before a final decision is made.

“I think there’s more work to do as far as soliciting input from across the university community,” said Woody.

“If you look at any decision, you want to make sure you have the benefit of as much feedback as possible. You have to make sure that you’ve provided an opportunity for anyone who has an opinion to express it.”

The USG Diversity Committee started a photo shoot last week, taking photos of students holding up a white board that says what inclusive excellence or diversity means to them. The photo shoot will continue through this week, with a table on the Driscoll Bridge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. The working title for the project is the Inclusive Excellence Initiative.

“We wanted to do some type of initiative that brought together a whole bunch of identities,” said Alejandro Garcia, chair of the USG Diversity Committee. “When people hear the word ‘diversity’ they tend to think of minorities, but it involves everyone. We want to include a lot of different kinds of people.

The goal is to tie campus together.”

On Friday, April 25, the photos will be posted to different social media pages such as Facebook, Tumblr and Instagram. Physical photos may also be posted in different colleges on campus or on the Driscoll Bridge.

“Photo projects on Driscoll Bridge have been popular this year, so the challenge is to do something new and fresh so people will actually look at them,” said Garcia. “We’re trying to think of a way to make it stand out more.”

According to Garcia, the committee has taken about 50 photos so far. They are hoping to include undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff in the project. They will also continue to collect and post photos for the rest of the year.

“Hopefully this will be a project that will continue on after this year,” said Garcia. “After this round of photos, the subject might shift. It could change every couple months or every year to address a new subject related to diversity.”

Garcia said the future of the project depends on the chair and members of the committee next year. The president of USG chooses a new chair for the committee every year, and membership fluctuates. There are currently 23 active members of the Diversity Committee.

“The Diversity Committee is a big group of people and we wanted this, so we decided to take it on and make it happen,” said Garcia. “It’s something that a lot of people have wanted for a long time.”

Garcia said he believes it is easier to get people involved in these projects if they are part of a group that has been historically marginalized. However, the photo project is trying to involve everyone on campus.

“Most people feel marginalized in one way or another, but if people don’t think they fit into the campaign they might be afraid to participate,” said Garcia. “That’s part of the reason we’re doing this in the first place.”

Garcia added that involving a lot of different people also relates to the idea of being an ally. He said one of the goals of the photo project is to create allies and expand what it means to be an ally.

“You don’t have to be part of an identity to support it or be aware of the issues they face,” said Garcia. “It’s important to be an ally for all identities.”

According to Garcia, the Halls mirror incident last fall inspired the campaign. It started the Be(A)ware campaign, but it also highlighted the need for an ongoing campaign that was proactive instead of reactive.

“There’s always been talk about doing a student-led initiative like this,” said Garcia. “I feel like it’s a lot more impactful when it comes from the student body. It’s students saying: This is what we care about.”

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April 23, 2014

www.duclarion.com

Women pioneer path at DU medical institution as a graduate of DU’s College of Medicine.

After her graduation, Lawney served as president on the State Board of Charities and Corrections and worked at Denver Children’s Hospital.

In 1900, Emma Azalia Hackley, the first African American woman to graduate

from DU, received her degree in music. Hackley was relatively well known as a singer, teacher, While many colleges and conductor and composer in universities across the United the music industry throughout States did not begin accepther life. She was also involved ing women as students until in women’s suffrage and racial well into the 20th century, the equality efforts and founded University of Denver has been the Colored Women’s League a co-educational institution in Denver. since shortly after DU Other notable first opened its doors in alumnae throughout 1864. The university did DU’s history include not begin actively seeking Rebecca Ann Dreman, female students until the named Miss America early 1880s, but during the in 1974, Home Depot period between 1884 and CEO Carol Tomé, silver 1899, women constituted and bronze Olympic over a quarter of all of figure skating medalDU’s graduates. ist Michelle Kwan and DU saw its first former Secretary of female graduate in 1886, State Condoleezza Rice. when Helen Fuller OffiThe Colorado cer graduated with a Women’s College Bachelor of Arts degree. merged with the Officer was one of only University of Denver two people in her graduin 1982. Originally ating class and attended founded in 1888 and classes at DU’s original still operating today, downtown campus. the Colorado Women’s During her time College offers classes at DU, Officer was during the day, eveinvolved in a literary ning, weekend and and musical club called online for women seekthe Alcyone Society and ing higher education. then went on to attend The Colorado the New England ConWomen’s College servatory of Music after identifies itself as an her graduation. institution dedicated One year later, in to the empowerment 1887, Eleanor Lawney courtesy of blackpast.org of women, and those became the first woman to Portrait of Emma Azalia Hackley, first female African who graduate from graduate from a Colorado American DU graduate. the Women’s College meg mcintyre Entertainment Editor

receive a degree from the University of Denver.

Today, DU continues to make strides in furthering the empowerment of women.

This year DU hosted its 19th annual University of Denver Women’s Conference, a group of students revived the Undergraduate Women’s Council, DU’s first ever allfemale a cappella group, First Edition, was formed and a new sorority Chi Omega colonized on campus.

A new athletic field was also recently named in honor of Diane Wendt, who was named the first Director of Women’s Athletics at DU in 1974. Throughout her career, Wendt was a constant advocate for gender equity in athletics and founded the University of Denver Gender Equity Task Force. She received a number of awards for her service and dedication to women in athletics and is the namesake of a newly endowed scholarship fund that provides opportunities to DU’s student-athletes.

Of DU’s first 100 students to graduate, 26 were women.

Today, female students make up 54 percent of DU’s total undergraduate population.

As time goes on, women continue to make significant accomplishments as students of DU, and these women will continue to write DU’s history in the years to come.

Arboretum rooted in DU history alex johnson Editor-in-Chief

A walk through DU’s campus will herald numerous sights and sounds; one everpresent element is the many trees that dot campus.

The space DU occupies is known as the Chester M. Alter Arboretum, a designation made in 1999 by thenChancellor Daniel L. Ritchie.

Arboretum curator Francesca Aguirre-Wong said Ritchie founded the arboretum to honor his predecessor; Alter was DU’s chancellor from 1953-1966.

“The arboretum was founded in 1999 by Chancellor Ritchie to commemorate all the good work that Chester M. Alter had done throughout his years as the DU Chancellor,” said Aguirre-Wong.

One additional role filled by the arboretum is to catalog and document all of the trees on campus.

According to AguirreWong, that number is well over 2,000 individual trees of several hundred species.

“The arboretum has 2,239 trees and 287 different taxa,” she said.

Some of those 2,239 trees have a history tied to them as well. Some trees have plaques or nameplates that denote their historical importance to DU’s campus, such as one planted by Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady and wife of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States.

According to an article in DU Magazine, Johnson came to campus on Sept.

10, 1965, to plant a tree and dedicate the Harper Humanities Garden, which is named in honor of the mother of former DU Chancellor Heber Harper.

From its beginnings as a garden in the 1960s to today, the arb oretum has continued to change and evolve with campus.

Ag u i r re - Wong describes new additions and changes to the arboretum that courtesy of du.edu/arboretum she sees as

A landscape image of the Arboretum shows Nelson Hall and the Evans Chapel.

adding benefit to the campus community at large.

“This February ... we began replacing old plastic and metal tags/signage with new aluminum accession labels that have each tree’s accession number, scientific name and grid number,” said Aguirre-Wong, adding, “This was a major accomplishment towards becoming a better curated arboretum and providing information to the public. For example, if someone were walking through the arboretum and was curious as to what kind of tree they were looking at, they’d simply look at the new accession label.”

This year, the arboretum also held the first annual DU Tree Election, in which students, staff, alumni and community members voted to plant a tree on campus.

The Texas Red Oak emerged as the winner and will be planted on April 25 at 2 p.m. Aguirre-Wong hopes students will continue to stay involved with the arboretum.

“Students were very excited to be a part of this decision-making process for the very first time. We look forward to involving students more like this in the future,” said Aguirre-Wong.

Those interested in learning more can visit du.edu/arboretum/.

Fun Facts:

DU has always been a coeducational institution.

First woman to graduate from DU: Helen Fuller Officer, 1886.

First woman licensed to practice medicine in Colorado: Eleanor Lawney, graduated from University of Denver medical college.

First African American woman to graduate from DU: Emma Azalia Hackley, 1900.

Colorado Women’s College merged with DU in 1982 offers college classes for women durings evening, weekends and online.

Current enrollment 54 percent female, 46 percent male.

Hosted 19th annual University of Denver Women’s Conference this year.

Undergraduate Women’s Council revived this year.

First ever all-female a cappella group formed this year.

New sorority, Chi Omega, colonized on campus this year.

Notable Alumnae: Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State.

Rebecca Ann Dreman, Miss America 1974.

Carol Tomé, CEO of Home Depot.

Michelle Kwan, silver and bronze Olympic figure skating medalist.

Diane Wendt: the newly renovated athletic fields were recently named in her honor.

courtesy of du.edu/arboretum

A student soaks up the sun amidst the colorful trees.

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April 23, 2014

Don Giovanni captures the essence of lust Hogan Tracy, traipse around a city pursuing women and trying to evade the husbands and men that Don Giovanni has Last weekend, from April 17-20, the offended with his romantic indiscretions.

DU community was whisked away to the The opera is animated by one overarching sights and sounds of 18th-century Italy and conflict: Don Giovanni murdered Donna into the life of nobleman Don Giovanni, Anna’s, played by Erin Clark, father, played the notoriously lascivious and promiscu- by Tim Sirinunthikul, after a failed attempt ous eponymic character in Mozart’s opera, to seduce her; this decision later comes back to haunt him in a ghastly way.

“Don Giovanni.”

The three-hour show, directed by The opera, one of the most performed Kenneth Cox and conducted by Lawin the world, was performed by two casts rence Golan, was filled with comedy, of DU students; this review covers the melodrama, exceptional sets and cosThursday and Saturday cast.

The story follows Don Giovanni, tumes and universal themes that have played by Michael Hewitt, as he and his stayed current since the opera’s debut in manservant Leporello, played by Griffen 1787, namely the consequences of decisions, love and the masks we all wear at times to hide our true selves.

Zerlina, played by Camille Jasensky, and Don Giovanni’s duet following the latter’s wedding was a scene of particular genius.

The emotional lyrics inform the audience (via a translated projector) that Zerlina, recently married, is reluctant to elope with the new seducer, Don Giovanni; he congusto kubiak|clarion vinces her to let go and The show was performed in full force and beautiful costumes last weekend. to embrace her wild by alex johnson Editor-in-Chief

side. The scene was phenomenally acted

by Hewitt and Jasensky. Hewitt embraced Jasensky in a way that made both her and the audience shudder with anticipation.

Their motions and the lyrics evoked a true sensation of romance—or was it just lust?

Either way, these were clearly talented performers doing something very well about which they cared.

Hogan Tracy’s portrayal of the subservient yet critical Leporello was both well sung and magnificently acted.

The role requires immense talent as both a comic and dramatic actor, and Hogan Tracy played the role well. One memorable scene occurs when Leporello explains to Elvira just how many women Don Giovanni has slept with—over 1003 in Spain, 640 in Italy, 231 in Germany, 100 in France and 91 in Turkey. This comical scene was exaggerated by a massive catalog of names written out by Leporello in a tome; the pages were so numerous that they stretched across the stage.

Although students and modern folk in general may be bored by a three-hour performance sung completely in Italian, patrons of culture and the arts undoubtedly connected with the intensely romantic, sensual scenes of love and lust displayed by the cast and animated by the great work of the musicians in the pit. The lyrics of the opera, written by librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, reflect contemporary, universal themes that span culture and centuries.

gusto kubiak|clarion

At top: The conductor runs the show with finesse.

At bottom: Beautiful sounds ring across the theatre.

Students dare to share creative works at open mic DU’s all-female a capella group First Edition performed two songs as well, a fun interlude between the many rich prose Quaint and cozy Beans Coffee Shop pieces. First-year Garrett Biggs was among came alive last Wednesday night, as Eng- those sharing his writing; he read an origilish honors society Sigma Tau Delta and nal short story called, “A Letter to Patrick, “Foothills Journal,” DU’s annual visual for I Didn’t Bring Flowers.”

“I like doing readings. It’s nice to have and textual magazine, hosted the third open mic night of the year. Students came people hear your work out loud,” said together to perform and hear everything Biggs. “When it’s read [on the page], it from spoken word poetry to an a capella takes away certain nuances that you want rendition of Lorde’s “Buzzcut Season.” associated with the language. I like to read After the success of last quarter’s two it out loud so [the audience] hears it exactly events, Sigma Tau Delta and “Foothills” how I hear it.”

Biggs’ work and the work of the other came together once again to present this performers matter to Coburn and Sigma open mic night on Apr. 16.

Tau Delta. Showcasing “The first one had an student work is biggest goal awesome turn out. We had “We encourage they hope to accomplish people sitting on the floors,” people to share with events like these. said Sigma Tau Delta Vice “I want to make sure it President and “Foothills” their work because brings awareness to the creAssistant Managing Editor ative writers and performAnnie Wiegel. On Feb. 4, it deserves to be ers at DU,” said Coburn.

The Clarion reported that more than 35 people were in shared and heard.” “It’s a very comfortable atmosphere, and it’s nonattendance that time, with judgmental. We encourage about 20 of them sharing Kayla Coburn, people to share their work their creative work.

President of Sigma Tau because it deserves to be By midway through Delta shared and heard.” last Wednesday’s event, Coburn and Wiegel Beans was once again filled with creative voices and eager listeners. understand the need for a safe, comfortAbout two-dozen creative pieces—poetry, able space when it comes to students sharshort stories and music—were shared by ing their work.

“People here are super welcoming,” the crowd of nearly 30 students. “[The first time] we actually adver- said Wiegel. “Everybody here is just intertised it as [only] creative writing pieces, ested in hearing each other and sharing. but there was a musical group that came That’s all what these things are about.”

Looking forward, Coburn and Wiegel and it was so cool. So now we’ve opened it up to where people can do musical perfor- both hope open mic nights become a mances or stand-up,” said Sigma Tau Delta regular occurrence—be that monthly, President and “Foothills” Prose Editor bi-monthly or quarterly. Those who performed seem to share this sentiment.

Kayla Coburn.

“I would hope that they keep doing it, Music played a big role in the event this time around. The open mic night to get more people to come out. It’s great to opened with senior Mike Schutte’s original hear people’s stories,” said Schutte.

Given the welcoming and warm envipiece on the guitar, “Whiskey on the Bible.”

“I like supporting on-campus ronment Coburn and Wiegel sought to events like [this]. I think it’s a great create, they also encourage new performkind of thing. And I know it’s primarily ers to attend future open mic events.

“If they want, they can come expespoken word, but this is how I speak my rience it first,” said Coburn. “And if the word,” said Schutte.

by adam lujan Contributing Writer

mood strikes them, then [the perform- [There’s] no better place to start, I think.” ers can] read.”

Be on the lookout for news about Biggs said, “If you write something, the next open mic night, the 2014 don’t be afraid to share it. Inherently, we “Foothills Journal” and the release are afraid as writers to share our work party on May 15. because it’s an uncomfortable thing to give something so close to you to everybody. So I would just say, simply, don’t be afraid to share that part of yourself.”

P a r t of sharing is knowing there will be a receptive audience, Schutte explained.

“If the hesitations are about the whole p u b l i c aspect, this is just a really embracive environm e n t ,” he said.

“Everyone’s on the same page in terms of the courage it takes to tell your story through whatever gusto kubiak|clarion m e d i u m Top: Senior creative writing major Steven Dunn reads original prose. Bottom: Students at you have. Beans attend the open mic night at Beans to listen to an assortment of poetry and music.

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April 23, 2014

Clyfford Still Museum hosts r e p w o o rt n Curatorial Practicum students s www.duclarion.com

by julia mason Contributing Writer

“The best works are often those with the fewest and simplest elements... until you look at them a little more, and things start to happen,” explained famed Abstract Expressionist Clyfford Still.

Curatorial Practicum students and Professor Dan Jacobs, director of DU’s Myhren Gallery, hosted a reception at the Clyfford Still Museum located in the heart of the Civic Center last week. The reception was in celebration of curating artworks that go through the gallery rotation by adding student-written wall panels next to each piece.

The gallery opening was complete with a bar and free admission for anyone affiliated with the DU community, but it also drew in locals with no connection to the university.

This upper-level art history class, Curatorial Practicum, is an exploration on museum and gallery practices with a focus on learning how to curate a museum or gallery. Much of the class work is on-site and handson to become more familiar with the space. Students choose particular works to put on display in specific parts of the gallery and, after much research, make decisions about the placement of each work and its proximity to others. According to the Clyfford Still Museum’s website, many of the works chosen by students had never before been exhibited. Another important portion of the class is the concise writing of wall panels. Each of these bear the initials of the student responsible for compiling the information about the piece in question.

DU senior from Winnetka, Ill. Natalie Roche, enjoyed the

event and the hands-on curato- generation American Abstract Expressionists. rial practice completely.

Still’s collection ranges from “After reading Still’s diary, gigantic minimalistic canvases reviewing articles, and perusing his writings, students made spanning over 10-by-14 feet to connections to his artwork that highly abstracted and unnatuwent beyond his literature,” rally tall figural to realistic portraits, and according to the said Roche.

Roche is among the stu- museum, rare drawings and dents that worked on curating illustrations. Roche was highly the gallery and is an Art History intrigued by Still’s drawings in major with an Asian Studies particular, especially one that is minor. She was the only student thought to be a self-portrait of who read Still’s diary and was the artist crossdressing. Roche able to incorporate knowledge of was also interested in the artist’s his personality into her analyses use of impasto, a thick applicaof his works. She loved the expe- tion of paint that makes no rience of being able to work on- attempt to look smooth, defined site and have the opportunity to by About: Art History.

After the artist’s death in apply the skills she has learned 1980, his estate was sealed off in a professional setting.

These wall panels’ purpose from public and scholarly view. is to be informative and assist Still wanted all of his artwork in viewers’ understanding of to be in one city in a single Still’s extensive collection of art, museum. Denver, under the much of which is considered leadership of then Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, was selected Abstract Expressionism.

According to the Clyfford by Still’s wife, Patricia, to receive Still Museum’s website, Abstract E x p r e s sionism is marked by the painting of abstract f o r m s , expressive brushwork and monumental scale, courtesy of clyffordstillmuseum.org all of which observe various works of art at the reception. The event were used to Visitors was put on by DU students at the Clyfford Still Museum. convey universal themes about creation, life, struggle the substantial Still collection, as and death. These themes were reads Still’s profile. The resulting collectively known as “the two-story, 28,500-square-foot human condition,” a phrase building was designed by Brad that took on a substantial rel- Cloepfil of Allied Works Archievance during and after World tecture specifically to display War II. Clyfford Still is widely Still’s various work.

The Clyfford Still Museum considered as one of the most is a modernist two-story buildimportant and renowned firsting with a textured concrete façade with industrial walls and skylights adding natural light to the galleries. In addition to the natural lighting, warm lights, which cast a yellow rather than a white glow, draw attention to the paintings by illuminating them. The minimalistic layout of the museum ensures that the viewer’s attention is based on the artworks themselves and their corresponding wall panels without distraction. According to the museum’s website, viewers can also take breaks in between galleries to walking out onto one of the two outdoor terraces on the second floor which house vibrant greenery. These organic spaces serve as a break from the urban interior of the museum.

The galleries are very open and airy with wide doorways leading into the adjacent galleries and lofts that open up to view the lower floor where the reception was held.

As stated in their blog, the Clyfford Still Museum was thrilled to be working with DU students. The exciting involvement of DU voices in one of Denver’s newest museums is a testament to the growing contributions of students to the city’s public sphere, as well as the rising popularity of an artist long forgotten. The Clyfford Still Museum is worth a visit to see not only a rare collection of Abstract Expressionist art, but also to support DU students’ hard work.

end of the season crisis by connor davis Assistant Editor

I’m on top of Keystone with the sun on my face and a perfect breeze. Friends surround me with ear-to-ear smiles.

Birds are chirping from the lift towers. A man in a hotdog costume flies by hysterically.

Everything is flawless, but I’m overwhelmed with guilt. More specifically, I’m puzzled by how my life is so unexplainably incredible here in Colorado.

After 20 years on snow, I stand atop the Rockies with these distresses spiraling through my mind. No answers accompany my questions, but I realize the best thing I can do is simply treat this experience and all experiences with responsibility and respect. For this year’s final Snow Report, here are some tips to finish off the season in a fulfilling manner.

Safety first

Driving up to the mountains with a thirty rack and no plan for the way back is not good, so have a designated driver. Drinking excessively on the mountain is also very dangerous and should not be overlooked. Think of your family and be responsible.

Take care of gear

Spring is known to ruin ski and snowboard gear, so don’t become a victim to this common threat and be respectful of everything your parents were so kind to invest in. Bring along a towel, wipe off all gear at the end of the day and pull out boot liners to prevent mold. Also store equipment properly at the end of the season by putting a coat of wax on bases and keeping boots buckled to maintain form. This stuff is made to last, all it takes is a little effort on your part.

Cook in the lot

Making food for a day on the slopes is always a good call, but now that it’s spring, making food in the parking lot is the best call of all. Bringing a little charcoal grill, a cooler full of supplies and some solid speakers is all it takes for a grand afternoon. There’s no better way to top off a slushy day at A-Bay.

Beware of the sun

At 13,000 feet, the sun is brutal, very brutal. All those times your parents shmeared you in sunscreen led up to these defining spring shred moments. Lather up, and don’t forget chapstick and sunscreen as well. Not doing this could lead to continuously striking out at the bars this quarter.

Listen to the music

Starting on May 3, A-Basin and Odell’s Brewing Company will be providing live music every Saturday of the month at the base area.

The “Shakin at the Basin’ May Concert Series” will host various small-time bands to come and fill the air with free tunes that can be enjoyed by all.

Take advantage of these free opportunities, and use this time to reflect on the day.

Dress to impress

Skiing and snowboarding are strictly about having fun and wearing a costume on the mountain makes for an outrageously fun time.

Put on something goofy from Halloween or the thrift store and try to get some laughs out of the crowd. Amongst this fun, however, always wear a helmet. Just because it’s spring and you’re wearing a costume doesn’t mean skiing and snowboarding are less dangerous. You’ve made it this far through the season and it would be simply devastating for something to happen now.

There’s no way to give back everything the mountains have given us after this incredible season. However, we can be safe and smart by putting in just a little bit of effort. Never forget how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful place, stay on snow as long as possible, have stupid amounts of fun and check back in for another year of the Snow Report when lifts start turning in the fall.

Each week, the Clarion will bring you tips, advice and anything else snowrelated for an even better time on the slopes.

courtesy of cole gibson

Pondering the incredible opportunities Colorado’s Rockies have to offer.

April 23, 2014

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s r pic you d Tag UGrin s #D ith u re w arion a h l S UC @D

The Grind: Atticus Six rooftop bars near DU The Clarion staff reviews bars, restaurants and coffee houses, attempting cultural mutiny on all things hipster.

After surviving Colorado’s long and brutal winter, DU students (of age) deserve a refreshing beverage under the spring sun. The question is, where will these beverages be enjoyed? The Border, otherwise known as Merchant’s Mile High Saloon, is nice and all with its dark corners and sweat-coated floor, but one of these rooftop options (listed by distance from DU, shortest to longest) would be a much wiser choice. by connor davis Assistant Editor

Ale House at Amato’s 2501 16th St.1 Happy hour: 3 - 7 p.m. Monday Thursday / 3 - 6 p.m. Friday For those just trying to grab a beer and avoid the hipster Denverites, this American brew house is the place to be.

It’s affordable, there’s plenty of shade for when it’s hot, fire pits for when its cold and complimentary valet parking until 10 p.m. That’s about as classy as it gets for college students.

courtesty of taVerntotable.com

Atticus is hip in the manner of thrifted cowboy boots or old whiskey barrels.

Atticus: 4.2 beans

Atticus captures the essence of the Mile High City. by camilla sterne Lifestyles Editor

Denver has often been criticized for being one of the major cities that has not yet fully grown into itself. For some, Denver’s amorphous identity makes it the ideal place to be a self-starter.

Others liken the Mile High City to an overcompensatory younger sibling, overeager in their pursuit of self-definition. This Grinder was overcome by the sudden recognition of what Denver stands for upon stepping into Atticus.

Located next to Boone’s Tavern at 1115 E. Evans Ave., Atticus captures the essence of our oxygen-deprived little cowtown with its westurban rusticity and pork-belly dominated menu.

The neighborhood restaurant is owned by the folks of Tavern-to-Table, who also own Boone’s Tavern and Handlebar Tavern. Their philosophy is rooted in loyalty to the surrounding community, which may explain the distinct Denver vibe that Atticus exudes.

It’s likely that Atticus has been overlooked by the DU community thus far, having opened just recently in February of this year.

Any hip Denverite will feel right at home at Atticus, with its tin embellished bar, wrought iron light fixtures and an assortment of eclectic westerninfluenced decor.

Maps, bovine representational artwork, inspirational quotes about travel, a pennyfarthing replica and even an old fashioned typewriter adorn the walls, intermingled with quaintly decorated chalkboards listing specials and drink options. A large sculpted elk head drives home the western theme, but its replica status will appease any taxonomy-disapproving patrons.

Fresh flowers rest contently in sun-filtering mason jars on each respective table, and if that weren’t quaint enough, the restaurant’s playlist is a mix of nostalgia-inducing guitar-strummers

like Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz.

The hip may try to avoid muttering the lyrics under their breath while munching on some Pork Belly Biscuits.

The cozy bar and restaurant is open almost all day everyday, opening early with breakfast and coffee at 8 a.m. and staying open until 10:30 p.m. with dinner options and specialty cocktails from their full bar.

The breakfast, lunch and dinner menus are extensive, with prices ranging from $7-$12 for breakfast and lunch and dinner ranging from $14-$18.

Atticus doesn’t skip the originals, with their Classic Breakfast at $8, but there are far more enticing options such as the waitress-recommended Chorizo French Toast and the tasty Eggs Benedict with Prosciutto. Most meat-eaters would agree that prosciutto should be added to everything. Other options like the Gouda Croissant and Breakfast Burrito cover all the bases. And thank goodness that this local-friendly restaurant carries Kaladi Brothers coffee, unlike other misguided breakfast joints in the DU area.

Notable lunch options such as the Apple and Brie Ciabatta and Chicken Curry sandwich may leave a brunch addict questioning their preferential treatment of breakfast foods.

Dinner options range from Herb Encrusted Quail and Grilled Hangar Steak to Wild Boar Chili and Spaetzle. Atticus’ desserts are all under $5, a pleasing price for your average sugarmongering modster.

While Denver still has room to cement an identity, it’s nice to be reminded every so often that the Mile High City has a cultural identity— and not just one based on the legalization of a certain potent foliage. Atticus will remind us of the good ol’ days (even just the ones of our imaginations), and provide a new home on the range for hip westerners, wannabes and wayfarers.

Ignite!

2124 Larimer St. Happy hour: 3 - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday / 3 - 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday For a classier evening, check out Ignite! Amongst some great options on Larimer Street, this place thrives with its cozy modern style and professional crowd. Like Linger, getting food here can be pricey, so just plan on drinks unless the budget is big.

Linger 2030 W 30th Ave. Happy hour: 4 - 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Friday Simple and American, Linger is a go-to spot for any occasion. The modern style highlighted with rustic wood and big windows is very hip and draws a big crowd. Get here early to find some space, and avoid the food unless the plan is to get spendy.

Museum of Contemporary Art Café.

1485 Delgany St. No happy hour On top of the MAC is a wonderfully discreet café that is a blast to check out. It does cost $5 to enter the museum, but that’s a student discount price worth the experience. This is a very quiet and relaxing place to grab just a drink or two with views of Union Station. Don’t forget to walk through the actual museum, too.

The café closes early since it’s part of the museum (7 - 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 5 p.m. on weekends), so go nice and early.

Fainting Goat 846 S. Broadway Happy hour: 3 - 7 p.m. Monday - Friday For a more traditional Irish pub, head down to the Fainting Goat. The staff is super friendly, and they make any customer feel like a regular in the midst of many snarky Denver bars. Play some tunes on the old school jukebox, get in on a game of shuffleboard and relax amongst the three floors of fun.

Irish Rover Pub 54 S. Broadway Happy hour: 3 - 7 p.m. Monday Friday Just three miles from campus is a rooftop bar for DU’s Irish crowd. The style is a perfect mix of old-fashioned pub with modern urban, and it’s a great place to catch the game, no matter what game it might be. Rip a couple car bombs or Irish drafts, and enjoy the view down Broadway.

courtesty of denVer.thedrinknation.com

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April 23, 2014

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DU students eat pancakes and fundraise for a great cause by courtney luster Contributing Writer

If there are four words college students universally congregate around, they are “All you can eat.” Combine that with raising thousands of dollars for a good cause, and the result is Delta House of Pancakes, which took place last Thursday at the Tri-Delta House from 11 p.m.

- 3 a.m.

Students who showed up at 12:30, right after the pancake-eating contest ended, were waiting in line out the door and around the corner.

The attendees of DHOP also got a surprise visit from the Denver Police Department who responded to several noise complaints but ended up donating money to the event instead of shutting it down, according to junior Nellie Quinn, internal philanthropy chair of Tri- Delta, who is from Boulder and studying jazz music.

“He said, ‘The neighbors called for a fourth time to complain and I told them I didn’t care,’ and then he gave us a dollar for St. Jude,” said junior Emily Keil, vice president of public relations, who is from Littleton studying voice and literature.

The Denver Police Department were not the only ones excited about the philanthropy that went into the event.

Quinn and Kiel commented on the event, saying it was a success that surpassed their goal of donating $3,000 to St. Jude’s Research Hospital.

St. Jude’s gives free medical treatment with top-of-the-line research and equipment to children with cancer and other serious diseases, according to Quinn.

“They make cancer treatment— something that is very scary for everyone—and try to make it something that is not so terrifying for these kids,” said Keil.

The event did not just help children at St. Jude’s. According to Quinn and Keil, it benefitted the girls who participated in many ways as well. Quinn commented on the Tri-Delta girls who really brought the event to life.

When asked about her favorite part of the event (besides raising money for St. Jude’s), she responded, “Seeing girls who are more shy and not as outgoing and seeing them really step up to the plate and flourish in one night.… It’s so nice to have an event that showcases other people’s talents.”

“It’s a nice opportunity for girls to get involved and have a hands on experience working for St. Jude and working as a chapter,” Keil added.

Not only did Tri-Deltas get the opportunity to make connections with their philanthropy and the DU community; students from every corner of campus were able to connect with each other through DHOP. “It’s a nice event to showcase the unity of DU or the camaraderie that exists beyond Greek Houses,” said Kiel.

Walking into the event, one saw students represented from almost every sorority and fraternity, sports team and club.

“There’s so many people here who are in different groups and it’s awesome.

There’s Greek life and there’s non-Greek Life and it’s great,” said Lauren Morell, a sophomore from Littleton majoring in business.

The biggest excitement of the night (besides the police visit) was the pancake-eating contest, a new addition to DHOP this year. Teams competed to see which could eat the most pancakes in five minutes, with the winners consuming an impressive 44 pancakes altogether.

According to Keil and Quinn, this is the biggest DHOP has ever been. They attribute the success to all the effort put in to the event by the chapter and all the people who came out to support it.

If the amount of bacon consumed by DU last night was any indication, it is safe to say DHOP was a success.

DU students show their pride amongst pancakes at DHOP last week. The event raised over $3,000 for St. Jude’s Research Hospital.

courtesy of claire hertel

Now Leasing for 2014-2015!

April 23, 2014

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New film fails to ‘transcend’ expectations

until the beginnings of a standoff start to occur. The only real storylines are given to Will and Evelyn, whose story is actually not the most interesting part of the film. If focus had been more evenly distributed to RIFT member Bree (Kate Mara, “House of Cards”) or even Buchanan and Tagger, “ Tr a n s c e n d e n c e” might have been able to better hold its audience’s attention.

Just because the Will and Evelyn storyline is not that interesting does not mean the actors did not do well with what they could. Depp, who always does fantastically with his characters, was an excellent Will. Yet surprisingly, his best performance is done purely through voice, when he speaks through humans controlled by nanotechnology. His tone emanating out of photo courtesy of thisisinfamous.com another’s mouth is In the new film “Transcendence,” Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) and his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) must decide to transfer Will’s consciousness into an artificially intelligent computer. both chilling and captivating. Hall and by kaitlynne birkett camera panning over new uses of tech- his body. Evelyn searches for any way Bettany would probably be considered Copy Chief nology: A keyboard is used as a door- she can save Will, eventually choosing the best actors of the film though. Hall stop, while iPods and mobile phones to upload his consciousness, against does an excellent struggling-partner With rapid technological advances, are littered in the streets like trash. This the suggestion of Waters. The process role, torn between her love and her does society begin to lose all that makes was an innovative and exciting start to appears to work, but the computer/ humanity, while Bettany portrays the it human? This is the question that the the film, but things start to go downhill Will hybrid begins asking to be con- scientist confused by his previous connew film “Transcendence” raises. Dr. from there. Max Waters (Paul Bettany, nected to the Internet, which Evelyn ceptions and the path to the dark side Will Caster (Johnny Depp, “Pirates of “A Beautiful Mind”) voices over the naively does. All sorts of problems laid out before him. the Caribbean”) and his wife Evelyn setting of the scene, talking about his break loose across the Internet, while Though the film contains many (Rebecca Hall, “The Prestige”) are friendship with the Casters.

Will also develops and enhances all logical flaws, the acting and excelforced to make some difficult deciThe film then jumps back five nanotechnology, which gives him the lent CGI will definitely be interesting sions after Will is attacked by an anti- years, to a time when a terrorist group capability to take human form. enough to the casual viewer. The small technology terrorist group, leaving him called RIFT simultaneously attacks AI Honestly, the plot is pretty implau- details seem to be the best part of the with weeks to live as radiation poisons labs—one of these attacks is against sible. The concept of one’s ability to film, including the aforementioned his body. The couple had been work- Will. He is shot, but the wound appears simply upload a sentient consciousness to interesting uses of archaic tech as well ing on an artificial intelligence (AI) to not be fatal, so he continues con- a piece of metal is absolutely absurd and as the costume choices for Evelyn’s computer, which the two naively see as sulting with Agent Buchanan (Cillian not really ever explained. If one is able to character. She continually wears black the solution to their problems; Evelyn Murphy, “Inception”), a government completely suspend disbelief, the film can and white, like the colors of a computuploads Will’s consciousness and brain official relying on the only AI lab still continue being interesting, though it does er’s code on a screen, when she supto a computer before his death. at work, and Joseph Tagger (Morgan drag on in the center of the film. Will has ports AI Will—yet by the end of the “Transcendence” opens in the Freeman, “The Shawshank Redemp- already been uploaded to the Internet, film, her white shirt has been dirtied year 2019, where the world has lost tion”), the only survivor and head of but “Transcendence” continues plodding and bloodied, a symbol of humanity. If all electronic power. People are dirty, one of the attacked AI labs. But all along as the AI system takes ages to actu- one is searching for a film to transcend desperately searching for edible foods, is not well with Caster, as partway ally do things. The RIFT terrorists who the many logical fallacies in most of relying on themselves to acquire food. through the consult, he becomes ill and had been so important at the beginning today’s films, however, this one should One particularly striking moment is the later discovers the radiation destroying of the film are completely forgotten about probably be avoided.

Neon Trees disappoint in lesson on ‘Pop Psychology’ by maddy meredith Contributing Wrtier

“Pop Psychology,” the upcoming album by alt-rock band Neon Trees, was released Tuesday, April 22. But fans should save their money, because this one is a flop.

Past singles like “Animal” were successful for the high-energy dance sounds missing thus far in “Pop Psychology.”

These singles converted Neon Trees into the kind of group you could hear and dance along to when played on Top 40, but this album’s predictability will cause you to quickly forget any previous sentimentality.

The music video for the first pre-released single, “I Love You (But I Hate Your Friends),” should come with a disclaimer for anyone suffering from epilepsy, because the visual

assault caused by the combination of animal prints and acid colors leaves viewers reeling.

It seems the band is overcompensating for the dull lyrics of the song and complete lack of experimentation.

“All this emptiness would end / Stop pretending, if you knew what I know / Would you be ready to go,” asks lead singer Tyler Glenn, over and over again. The chorus can be summed up in a word: tired.

The next single, “Voices in The Halls,” is the kind of overdone song that Neon Trees apparently consider to be cutting edge. “Every night when I get home I can hear your voices in the halls / Every night when I’m alone I can hear your voices in the halls,” seems to be the only emphasized lyric.

Elaine Bradley and Jason Gibbons, both talented drummers who shine

in “Lessons in Love,” a former hit, are almost an afterthought in “Voices in the Halls.”

The only saving grace in this album is “Sleeping with a Friend,” but as evidenced in so many other albums, one song cannot save an entire album.

Both the dress and styling of the band and the keyboard parts in “Sleeping With A Friend” allude to the highenergy 1980s vibe that has brought the band success in the past.

The theme of the song, like several of their past hits, is sex and romantic relationships. Due to the band members conservative upbringing and Mormon roots, Glenn described the song to Rolling Stone as “not overly sexual—that’s the kind of sex song I know how to write.” The lyrics croon about how people go out “looking for something to fill the void” while two

friends decide to sleep together and face the consequences.

“I don’t go out much like I used to / Something about the strangers and the noise / And why leave if I got you baby / It’s a risk but I need the thrill,” speaks to the oftrisky act of getting involved with a friend, and the platonic yet sexual relationships favored by members of our generation.

Fans should feel disappointed by the lack of innovation in this album, because Neon Trees does have potential.

But the uninspired tracks, like “Voices in the Halls” and “I Love You (But I Hate Your Friends)” mark a potentially dark path of laziness.

If you are looking for the kind of savvy, upbeat dance sounds that the Neon Trees have produced in the past, invest your money and emotional energy in youthful bands like The Kongos, Young the Giant and The Knocks.

April 23, 2014

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Future gets ‘honest’ with new album by logan baker Assistant Editor

On the appropriately titled track “Blood, Sweat, Tears,” auto-tuned Atlanta crooner Future sings, “I gave my blood, sweat, and tears / You couldn’t have known what I did for this.” It is a surprisingly apt way of describing Future’s tone of voice on his second major label release, “Honest.” His autotuned croak has become famous in the record industry as a voice that can pour some syrupy emotion into any track.

On “Honest,” Future gives his listeners exactly what they have come to expect out of him: intoxicating love ballads, anecdotes about his drugdealing days and plenty of bragging about sexual conquests. The biggest difference that makes this album an even better and more cohesive work than 2012’s “Pluto” is how much larger and more grandiose everything sounds. The boasts are bigger, the bass booms even deeper and the track list features hiphop royalty such as Kanye West, Pusha T, Drake and Andre 3000. But does this add up to greater success for Future?

It turns out Future is not yet out of surprises. His opening track, “Look Ahead,” samples singer/songwriter Santigold’s feature off of “Dougou Badai,” a song popularized by the Malian duo “Amaduo & Mariam.” It is the perfect way to capture the weirdness that Future exudes in his music.

After 30 seconds of rising action with Santigold’s sampled hook and a smattering of hi-hats and shuddering 808s, Future jumps into screeching vocals in breathless 6/8 fashion. When he yells “Take a penitentiary chance / That’s a change, eat steak, caviar / Bloodline is a lion,” the listener will feel like he or she is in the middle of an adrenaline rush during the crime spree of a lifetime. The

ease with which Future controls his yell in accordance with the top-notch production is perhaps the biggest strength of the album.

Lyrically, the album leaves much to be desired. Future does not attempt to grow much in this area, instead using his emotion to tell a story. It may disappoint some that he cannot match his emotion with lyrics, a skill other similar artists such as Drake and The Weeknd seem to have mastered.

If you compare a track like “I Be U” from “Honest” with one of The Weeknd’s stand-out tracks such as “Echoes of Silence,” you can really see where Future fails in his experimentation.

Both artists are exceptional at their kind of hazy, drugged-up R&B/hip-hop hybrid, but there are a few differences that keep their ideas totally separate.

Future’s track is a codeine-soaked ballad about being so in love that you disentegrate into one another. While it is a noble attempt that is matched by absolutely phenomenal production, it fails to match the dramatic storytelling of “Echoes of Silence.” Future makes you desire being together, but The Weeknd makes you need to be one whole. Until Future can distill this difference and find that urgency, his deeper and more emotional tracks will continue to falter in their objectives.

The best songs on “Honest” are triumphant revelations. On “Covered N Money,” when he shouts, “I’m covered in money / I’m covered in money” it recalls shades of “Bugatti”, Ace Hood’s mega-hit from last year that Future featured on. Future gained international attention for his work shouting the ridiculous hook that was in constant radio rotation last summer. It wouldn’t be surprising to see this track receive similar airtime. On the first single off the album “Move That Dope,” Future

photo courtesy of theapod.com

The cover art for Future’s newest album, “Honest,” released Tuesday, April 22.

trades tales of his drug-dealing past with fellow rappers Pusha T, Pharrell and Casino. Each rapper holds their own on the star-studded track, and Pharrell’s verse in particular packs a memorable punch.

Overall on his album “Honest,” Future sticks to his guns and delivers his strongest, most cohesive work yet.

The album is full of trap bangers like most of his fans wanted, but does not show much else. He appears to have an

understanding for how his music works, but this is frustrating because one would hope this self-awareness would contain more growth and maturation in his lyrics. This is one of the better hiphop albums of the year so far and will undoubtedly receive a decent amount of radio time. Future knows how to create good music, but hopefully he can enhance the areas of his music that need work so he does not disappear into the dark recesses of radio purgatory.

BBC America’s ‘Orphan Black’ is back

photo courtesy of hypable.com

Sarah Manning and Rachel Duncan, both played by Tatiana Maslany, face off in the season premiere episode of “Orphan Black,” which aired last Saturday. .

by kaitlynne birkett Copy Chief

“Orphan Black,” shown both on BBC America and in Canada, is a science fiction television series, which premiered its second season last Saturday, April 19.

The show follows a group of women, all portrayed by Tatiana Maslany (“The Vow”), who discover they are clones created by the ominous Dyad Institute. The first season closed with an insane series finale. The clones discover that they are all considered property and do not have the ability to lead the normal life they seek, as well as many other revelations for the group. In addition to dealing with the company that only cares about their

biological functions, the women face a new threat this season from a religious sect that thinks that only one of them should survive.

There are five main characters the first season revolved around. Sarah Manning (Maslany) is a con woman, who comes upon the realization that there is more to her DNA when she witnesses a woman who looks just like her kill herself. The woman is Beth Childs (Maslany) and Manning, with no money or hope to her name, impersonates the late Childs.

The first season closed with Manning’s daughter being kidnapped, which will be one of the storylines of the newest season. The season two premiere, entitled “Nature Under Constraint and Vexed,”

follows mostly Manning as she searches desperately for her daughter at the Dyad Institute, until it is revealed that it is a religious sect that has Manning’s daughter—the same sect to which another clone, Helena (Maslany), belonged.

Other clones include Alison Hendrix (Maslany), a soccer mom, Cosima Nieuhaus (Maslany), a graduate student, and Rachel Duncan (Maslany), a member of the Dyad Institute.

Maslany is probably one of the most experienced actors of our time. She portrays all of the clone women amazingly, fully encapsulating a wide range of emotions and personalities. In addition to portraying a variety of characters, Maslany is able to place herself in the

world of “Orphan Black.” Many of the show’s scenes include several of the clones, which means that Maslany has to not only become a different person several times, but also pretend that the other characters are there speaking to her, when in reality she is the only person on screen. The actress herself is Canadian, but she also portrays women with American, British, German and Ukrainian accents.

“Orphan Black,” in addition to being an excellent show, also makes large strides in the realm of equality for women on TV. The women in the show are everything from a soccer mom to a scientist to a cop.

It is one of the few shows on TV that features a largely female cast, similar to the gender representation in the acclaimed Netflix show “Orange is the New Black.”

While most shows nowadays make sure they hit their female quota with one or maybe two developed female characters, “Orphan Black” switches it around entirely: Only three secondary male characters are in the show, and they do not even interact with each other. Additionally, there are three known homosexual characters on the show, which is more than many mainstream television networks show on their channels; plus the characters get their own interesting storylines that do not solely revolve around their sexuality.

Though the show does not seem to be as popular in the U.S. as it is in Canada, hopefully American viewers will start to appreciate this phenomenal show in its second season. “Orphan Black” has all the makings of greatness: intrigue, science, action and romance. Anyone looking for a way to break up the monotony in their week should definitely check out this show, both for its plot and its equal representation of characters. “Orphan Black” is on Saturdays at 9/8c.

April 23, 2014

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Fans should forgo ‘Fargo’ on FX

photo courtesy of screencrush.com

Bob Odenkirk and Allison Tolman play Deputy Bill and Molly Solverson in the new television adaptation of the film “Fargo.”

by adam lujan Contributing Writer

Those wondering why the 1996 dark comedy “Fargo” required a television adaptation were probably left without answers on April 15 when FX debuted its newest drama based on the Coen Brothers’ film.

“Fargo” seems to check all the boxes: great cast, great writing, great production value. On the surface, it seems like the type of show viewers will easily come to love. But it falls short in its weak creative liberties, numbing some of the film’s strongest themes and creating a static female lead that does little to reflect the original work.

Loosely adapted from the Coen brothers’ original film, the show follows Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”), a down-on-his-luck insurance agent struggling to get his life together in Bemidji, Minn. After a happenstance meeting with mysterious psychopath Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton, “Armageddon”), Lester’s life becomes a literal bloody mess. Meanwhile, local law enforcement, led by police chief Vern Thurman (Shawn Doyle, “Big Love”) and officer Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman, “A Thousand Cocktails Later”), are investigating a series of strange crimes around town.

While writer Noah Hawley crafts an original story separate from the film, the show leans on similar character tropes and themes. In terms of characters, Freeman’s Nygaard is most like William H. Macy’s Jerry Lundegaard, and Thornton’s Malvo is perhaps an amalgamation of murderous duo Carl (Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire”) and Gaear (Peter Stormare, “The Big Lebowski”). Local cop Solverson is representative of Frances McDormand’s iconic role of Margie Gunderson.

Thematically, the show deals with the same issues of masculinity from the film—to a much greater, but less effective, extent.

Nygaard is constantly told by his wife, his brother and an old bully from high school that he is a loser and needs to “man up.” Malvo, a man keen on “watching the world burn” à la the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” enters Nygaard’s life and inspires him to take a violent stand. Here, the show delves into the same, tired conventions that brute force is the only way to prove masculine dominance. At least in the film, Nygaard’s counterpart Lundegaard is trying to prove himself through financial gain— another convention, granted, but not as prevalent or powerful.

Still, Freeman nails Nygaard’s bumbling, pathetic characterization throughout—with a pretty nifty Minnesotan accent for a Brit. In a perfect foil, Thornton channels the calm, cool and deadly Malvo with subtlety and precision, along with an unfortunately distracting hairpiece.

The performance that steals the show is that of newcomer Allison Tolman as Molly Solverson. Her character, however, is where the show shirks most of its potential and makes it unworthy of its namesake. As mentioned, Solverson is obviously inspired by Margie Gunderson from the film. Instead of being a tough, savvy—albeit quirky— hero like Gunderson, Solverson is sidelined into a supporting role for much of the episode, as a clumsy afterthought and inferior of Police Chief Thurman. Tolman makes the most of this, however, delivering a consciously cartoonish yet clever performance of a woman in way over her head.

In a film with such a strong, three-dimensional, and now iconic, female character at the center, it seems silly, almost neglectful, not to do the same with the show.

Sure, the original film was never about making a feminist point, but the show does a very poor job in its representation of women all around. The only other women in the show, apart from Solverson, are the nagging, pregnant and/ or weepy wives of the male characters. Unlike the film, the show seems to narrow its focus on the emasculated-turned-violent men in this small community. Similar ground has already been tread with shows like “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and “True Detective.”

Solverson oozes with the most potential for growth, and at hour’s end, it seems her role will get a lot bigger in the coming weeks. Hopefully this opens up the door for a more established definition of her character—depth beyond the kooky Minnesotan rookie cop in this first episode, deserving of a character modeled after the intrepid Gunderson.

“Fargo” tries to emulate its namesake, but still craft its own identity—an admirable feat. This unnecessary adaptation adds little to the original work beyond being a star-studded, well-written overhyped fan fiction. If it wants to broadcast under the name “Fargo,” it must do better in creating a story worthy of its predecessor, with stronger female characters and less conventionally drawn themes of masculinity. The first episode may not be indicative of the 10-episode run, airing Tuesdays on FX, but it is definitely not the best start.

‘Haunted House 2’ will scare laughter out of viewers by khadijah james

teenager, with a very promiscuous demeanor, sullen attitude, and hatred of Malcolm, whom she constantly reminds is not her “Haunted House 2,” the father. Wyatt, though he does not sequel to the new horror movie seem to have any problems with parody chain started by the Malcolm, has an imaginary friend Wayans Brothers last year, folhe constantly talks to, plays with lows Malcolm (Marlon Wayans, and emulates, picking up urban “White Chicks”) as he moves into slang and cuss words throughout a new home, new neighborhood, the duration of the film. While a new family and hopefully no the children have smaller roles in ghosts attached to the house. The the film itself, they are essential in story is told with the same finesse adding to Malcolm’s suspicions of as the “Scary Movie” franchise, the supposed safety of the house, also created by the Wayans Brothand proof of demonic activity. It ers, weaving numerous popular is Becky’s attachment to a creepy horror films into one film. In the box and increasingly sullen atticase of “Haunted House 2,” they tude that finally convinces Megan make fun of movies such as “Parathat Malcolm is not crazy and normal Activity,” “The Exorcist” something must be done to save and “The Possession.” While the them all from the evil demon movie is part of a franchise and trying to get rid of them. makes references to the first film, “Haunted House 2” delves right into the story, YOUR OPINIONS ARE NEEDED! starting with the conclusion of the first movie, with the assumption that Take the University of Colorado's Online Survey his previous girlfriend, who was possessed by Earn $20 a demon, is dead, and Young Adults age 18-24 are needed for an online survey about advertising and fast-forwards a year into the future with Malcolm’s use of community services. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes. new family. Malcolm’s Participants will receive a $20 electronic gift card for their time. happiness does not last long, starting with the Please go to http://tinyurl.com/kth9ktg to see if you are eligible. death of his dog, Shiloh Jr., during the move-in proThis research study is conducted by the University of Colorado Denver. For cess and escalating from more information, please contact Dr. Nancy Asdigian at 303-724-4394. there. Throughout the Principal Investigator: Lori A. Crane, PhD movie, shenanigans rangStudy title: Environment and Health Behaviors among Young Adults ing from old home videos COMIRB Protocol #: 13-0043, Approved 01-23-2013. of a demon trying to kill the previous family to Contributing Writer

it is not particularly imperative to view the first movie before viewing the sequel.

The film combines old characters from the first film with new characters, some of whom have appeared in other films by the Wayans Brothers in previous years. Wayans’ character is trying to erase the horrors of the past, moving in with a new family into a home that appears perfectly normal and safe, with the intention of starting over, although he still employs the use of cameras as a precaution.

He moves in with his new girlfriend, Megan (Jaime Pressly, “My Name is Earl”) and her two children, Becky (Ashley Rickards, “Awkward”) and Wyatt (Steele Stebbins, “Wish You Were Here”).

Becky is a stereotypical American

the demonic possession of a creepy doll leave the audience in tears over the hilarity of said actions.

However, as funny as the movie is, there are elements photo courtesy of ntdaily.com that could be offensive Malcolm and his girlfriend Megan in “Haunted House 2.” to certain individuals. There are will enjoy the sense of humor racial slurs and stereotypical required to fully enjoy the behavior throughout the movie, movie. Also, this movie is defiand while portrayed by characters nitely not a film for children, of said stereotypical identities, another fact of which viewers others watching the film may not should be aware. If children appreciate the slurs, which is a are permitted to view this film, factor directors and writers must parents should be aware that be aware of when creating a film of there are numerous instances this caliber. While racial slurs and in this film that can potentially stereotypical behavior occur in shock the sensibilities of their numerous films these days, there child, especially if they have not already exist societal tensions taught or exposed them to cerregarding issues of race, gender, tain things prior to the viewing sexuality, etc., and adding to said of this film.

Despite the negatives, the tensions through a film meant to be a comedic parody could poten- film is well made and written in tially result in a disconnect to the a way that leaves room for further series development. Viewfilm by the audience.

Also, there is a lot of vulgar ers who enjoyed the “Scary franchise, “White language, sexual acts, nudity Movie” and dirty humor that not every- Chicks” and the first “Haunted one may find funny. This movie House” will undoubtedly enjoy is definitely rated R, and viewers this film, and others who have should be aware that there may never seen any of these movies be parts of the movie that may will enjoy the ups and downs of shock or surprise them with Malcolm’s paranormal strugtheir vulgarity and/or sexual gles and the amusing twists tendency, and that not everyone from well-known horror films.

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April 23, 2014

BIC pen for her reinforces stereotypes

whether anyone is considering this a legitimate form of “progress” for women.

If this is a reflection of feminism in our society, we are in a sad state of affairs and need to up our game. This manner of products “for her” should be regarded as demeaning and a perpetuation of stereotypes, female oppression and gender distancing. Let’s unisex to unify.

You can now find marker pens, retractable ballpoint pens and crystal ballpoint pens just for women with

slimmer grips and diamond engravings produced by Bic. While disturbing, this is a genuine product currently being sold by stationary megastores and even Amazon. They are being marketed as, “A fashionable accessory for personal expression” whose “sleek silhouette and floral embossing add style and fashion.” Companies seem convinced that women cannot appreciate functionality, that only now we will begin to buy pens as they are more suitable to our stereotyped esthetics.

According to a Huffington Post article, our gender norms regarding color were not all that long ago reversed. Pink was considered more masculine and blue was delicate and more appropriate for girls. Though it may not be the conclusion arrived at by industry, this may be returning as the trend. Of the first five female DU students I approached, four identified blue as their prevailing color of choice, red coming in narrow second. It is not about the color; it is not just about women being discriminatorily limited to the pink and purple domain. Dictating what colors are acceptable for males and females to find appealing is an arbitrary, restrictive and offensive norm within many societies. Take a look at China, a nation across the globe yet the birthplace of Hello Kitty. And it is no more acceptable to dictate to women that they can only like pink and purple than it is to discourage women, or any individual, from liking those colors. Regardless of someone’s color preferences, they should not be made to feel ashamed.

After presenting, Karin Blanch, a second-year student with this product she said, “Talk about unnecessarily gendered items.” There is a difference between appreciating the natural distinctions between males and females and reducing women to consumers only interested in pretty colors and fashion.

Not all girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, not all boys are made of slugs and snails and puppydogs’ tails … We cannot limit people’s preferences for personal expression by societally dictated constraints and expectations for gender expression.

Pink products should be acceptable for males to purchase, blue acceptable for females to purchase. Tonka trucks should come in purple, Easy Bake ovens should come in green. By this I do not intend for an explosion of endeavors to produce products like Nerf Rebelle.

This is a gendered re-gendering of a typically male product into one only appropriate for females. Nerf guns are typically produced in blues, reds and grays and marketed to boys. In targeting tween girls, this new product comes, yet again, in pink and purple.

It is not about girlifying “male” products or vice versa. It is about reestablishing what products are appropriate and identifying more products as unisex rather than gendered. If you love pink, purple and floral embossing, male or female, buy Bic pens “for Her.” But we should be encouraging people to embrace a unisex perspective of all products. Unisex to unify.

more visitors than any other. A trip there on any sunny weekend (or even weekday) afternoon ensures that you will be surrounded by members of the community out for a run, volleyball game or some downtime under the sun. Park users should be able to enjoy a cold one if they wish on their afternoon and evening off.

Most forms of alcohol are already prohibited in the park, with only 3.2 percent beer allowed for public consumption under city law. In 2012, 93 people in Wash Park were given violations for breaking this law by park rangers. Given that alcohol is already regulated to a stringent standard, there is no need to ban the one form of diluted alcohol that is still allowed.

Why is this on the table in the first place? Park neighbors are pushing for a crackdown on alcohol because of what they describe as rowdy public behavior by drunken parkgoers at night. They also report that littering and urinating on their lawns happen too often.

However, while 60 arrests of rowdy parkgoers were made in 2012, the number was dramatically decreased to 28 in 2013, calling into question the magnitude of this problem. Instead of banning alcohol altogether, park rangers and other personnel should be present on nights when there are known to be problems to make sure park users are not getting out of control. Additionally, facilities like restrooms and trash cans

should be provided by the city to minimize other issues noted by the neighbors.

Working together, an agreeable solution can be reached that does not involve a complete alcohol ban in Wash Park.

While input from neighbors is important and should not be ignored, living in the neighborhood does not automatically give them a right to say what is and is not allowed in a city taxpayer funded park.

If park users want to consume alcohol responsibly, they should be able to if they wish. A ban pushed through by park neighbors would be an infringement of the rights of park users. The solution to the issues raised is better enforcement and facilities, not an unnecessary ban that will punish responsible users on their day off.

courtesy of www.huffingtonpost.com

The BIC Pen for Her is a ball point pen that is designed specifically for women and comes primarily in pink and purple.

by naomi forman Staff Writer

Ladies … life as we know it has just been revolutionized. We have finally overcome pen exclusionism. Bic has released an entire line of “Pens for Her.” Please try and contain yourselves, but yes, they come in our only two favorite colors: pink and purple.

Certainly subject to immense criticism, it remains difficult to determine

Wash Park ban on booze is unnecessary by danny zimny-schmitt Contributing Writer

Earlier this month, a Denver city councilman representing the Washington Park area sent a letter to Denver Parks and Recreation asking the department to strongly consider an alcohol ban for the park, given episodes of recent and recurring bad behavior in and around the park. While the argument does have some valid points and concerns, banning booze in a public park is not the answer for a common space that all should be able to enjoy and drink responsibly in if they so choose.

Wash Park is arguably the city of Denver’s most popular park, receiving

Pioneer Voices:

who will you vote for for usg president and vp?

julie bourne Senior Seattle

“Alisa and Marin.”

matthew lambrecht Freshman Colorado

“I don’t know yet.”

lindsey pieper Freshman Michigan

“Alisa and Marin.”

charlotte guinot Senior France

“I’m not going to vote.”

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April 23, 2014

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Too much objectification on End DU’s investment in fossil fuel DU Crushes Facebook page LETTER TO THE EDITOR

by evan swaak Contributing Writer

our biggest divestment event of the year. DJs, food, friends and fun will all be had on the lawn in front of the Anderson Academic Commons to show Chancellor Coombe that our school is in unison on divestment. Our numbers and our enthusiasm will show the university that we have had enough, and that it is finally time to find alternative investments for our endowment.

We are placing an enormous pressure on our school to divest. But the school has done it before with tobacco companies and apartheid in the past, and we are confident that the University of Denver can do it again.

We have no fear of rejection because the divestment movement is already growing. Many universities, cities, and religious universities have already officially divested or are on their way to fully divesting. These universities are showing the world that saying no to big money corporations is possible and proves the school’s solidarity on environmental justice.

These select schools have shown us that divestment is easily achievable and that doing so sets that university one step ahead of others. Sustainable development and growth is quickly becoming an advantageous economic tool to establish one’s leadership. Being proud Pioneers, do we not want our university to grow and set an example for other schools around the world? When the children of our children ask us what we did to stop climate change, don’t we want to tell them that we at least tried? It’s wrong to profit from wrecking the climate. Help us make history, and support our cause to divest from fossil fuels immediately.

Climate change is real. The past 28 years in a row have had temperatures above global average. Deserts are growing while the world’s ice caps are melting. Our oceans are acidifying, and we can literally see the pollution hanging over our greatest cities. Record-breaking heat, drought and hurricanes threaten millions of people worldwide. These undeniable consequences of climate change are accelerating and threaten the economic and social stability of the United States and abroad. We are at a historical precipice, one where both our decisions as well as our indecisions will directly affect the future of the human species and the survival of planet Earth.

Many people are beginning to fear that it is already too late; the 200 largest oil, gas and coal companies retain most of the world’s hydrocarbon supply that, if burned, would take us past the tipping point. But not all of us are so pessimistic. I recently joined a group of other environmentally-conscious and socially-active students here at DU called Divest University of Denver. Along with hundreds of other factions at other universities across the nation and the globe, we all have one simple goal: Fully divest — that is, end our investment of —our school’s endowment from fossil fuel companies.

If you’ve noticed our banners, our petitioning tables or our photo campaign on Facebook, you’ve seen us around. And if you haven’t, there’ll be plenty more of us. On April 30 from 4-6pm, we will be organizing

the

2014

P r e s e n t e d

C A P S T O N E

FESTIVAL

10 short plays. 3 weekends.

3 SHORT PLAYS

1-3

at 7:30 pm t h e

Dr. Faustus

The New New

MAY b y

We all marvel at the idea of being able to anonymously confess our love to our long-time crush. Being able to do so online where everyone can read it makes the notion even more fun. What will they think? Will they respond? Are they already taken? We can now get answers to all of these questions through DU Crushes on Facebook, with the convenience of still being able to hide behind the keyboard if it goes poorly.

But I fear the popular Facebook page has headed in a negative direction. While I still certainly waste too much time laughing at the over-the-top requests for DU’s most attractive students to take off their pants, but some of the messages have gone too far. It started with a few friendly jokes about how hot someone’s abs are, but quickly escalated into something much more.

They’ll call out their peers by name, and get into the nitty gritty of what they “want to do” to the guy from the gym with the sexy biceps and pretty eyes. It’s funny, yes, and it just might give your desired lover a nice confidence boost, but have we stopped to think that comments like these might be degrading for the person who is called out? What if their name is tagged and it appears on their Facebook wall for their friends, family and potential employers to see? If these comments were made not in the virtual world, but in the light of day, they would be considered sexual harassment — a crime taken very seriously because of how belittling it can

S E N I O R

Mental Reservations

Cycle TWO

feel for the victim. The same can be said for the other Facebook page with a similar purpose, “DU Hookups.”

Now, nobody is saying that DU is full of sexually-harassing students. Most of these DU Crushes posts are meant in good fun — sent about friends just to make them laugh. To my knowledge, nobody has complained to the secret administrator of the page, and the messages keep coming. But DU, it’s time to regain a bit of our class.

Some of the posts have become so detailed that students have commented on them in shock.

One student responded to a disturbing message saying these “[Messages] aren’t even mildly amusing anymore.” I’ll agree that there is a point to which joking sexual objectification can be funny, but it’s a very fine line to walk, especially when the same comments made in a nonjoking sense can be extremely hurtful.

It’s not worth the risk.

The most recent DU Crushes posts have been a bit more tame. Students have taken to advertising their student organizations or USG campaigns.

Many posts are genuinely kind, calling their crushes “cute” or “beautiful.” I was worried about its newest Snapchat feature — where students can Snapchat in photos to be posted on the page. That had the potential to go in the wrong direction, but most of the photos have been entertaining, yet tame.

DU Crushes certainly has a fun place in our campus culture, but let’s try to maintain this recent trend and keep our dirtiest sexual thoughts to ourselves.

by emma mckay Opinions Editor

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April 23, 2014

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Fracking: The world we don’t want to live in

courtesy of cartss.colorado.edu

Fracking is the controversial process of using pressurized liquid to fracture rock underground to harness energy.

by katerina arzhayev Contributing Writer

Colorado was just one of the examples used by protesters in the British Isles demonstrating against the increased use of hydraulic fracturing in the UK, but unfortunately, the demand for natural resources and energy sources silenced the thousands of people gathered to resist the expansion of fracking into Europe last month.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the use of water to break apart shale underground to allow for the release of natural gas and oil.

With the escalation of tension between the Russian Federation and the West, the United States has started to increase

funding given to companies who prioritize fracking in the Midwest.

This move sent a ripple effect to Britain, Spain and France, all of whom have also started looking into expanding the use of this harmful practice, even though they banned it in the past.

With disastrous consequences, campaigners for fracking have won over Colorado’s legislature for decades. This has allowed for the use of hydraulic fracturing to spread into residential areas, including Trinidad, parts of Aurora, Denver, Westminster, Elizabeth and Lakewood. Recall the tons of water that are poured into the wells to hydraulically separate the oil and gas from the shale: This water

becomes enriched with natural uranium and its deadly daughter Radium-226, as well as vast amounts of the radioactive alpha -emitting gas Radon-222, and its own daughters Bismuth 214, Lead-210 and Polonium-210.

Christopher Busby, an expert on the health effects of ionizing radiation and Scientific Secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk, has confirmed the presence of these elements and warned about their toxicity, even in very small amounts. The leftover water is then collected and injected into the earth at another location, mostly in the plains east of Denver.

Colorado has not yet seen some of the larger-scale side effects that have been observed in areas where fracking is abundant, but environmentalists advise that the plagues that have tormented areas such as Oklahoma will soon follow if the practice is not stopped, or at the least more heavily regulated. In the past year, Oklahoma residents report up to 250 earthquakes have been felt, and hundreds more that humans are not sensitive enough to feel. Last summer, Trinidad, Colo. suffered a 5.2 magnitude earthquake immediately after several tons of radioactive water from fracking were injected into the crust.

Fracking may seem like a good idea on the surface — the average citizen may have been indoctrinated to think that it is just like mining: both necessary and efficient. It is to our advantage that environmental groups have drawn

attention to the true harms brought to the earth, air and people by this practice. At its very root, fracking involves millions of gallons of water and sand being dumped into mile-deep holes drilled into the ground to isolate gas and oil from sediment. Other chemicals, such as the ones mentioned, are also freed.

There is no way to then recollect these chemicals, and they can leak into aquifers and leach back into the surface soil.

The unsustainable method of hydraulic fracturing does not have many supporters. This is due to the fact that many people realize how unsustainable it is. As a child, you probably conducted experiments with fracking in the sand at the beach or in a sandbox. Sticking your hand into and under the sand, children investigate for how long they can horizontally dig under the surface until their tunnels collapse. Without regard to the stability of the earth’s crust, there are now millions of miles of tunnels about a mile under the surface, all over the globe. These tunnels allow for gases and minerals to escape to the surface and create cracks along the earth’s crust.

Advocates for fracking demand attention toward the fact that is has been used for years, with minimal harms, and that it is necessary to continue this practice if the U.S. wants to stay ahead in the race for energy. Leeches were used to “cure” a multitude of illnesses 200 years ago, but progress mandated a change in the field of medicine. Just because something used to be considered good does not mean it will always

actually be good, and it does not warrant a discontinuation of research for safer and more renewable energy sources. While some claim that fracturing allows for sustainable use of wells and resources, the facts disagree.

In Colorado alone, there are thousands of abandoned wells that continue leaking dangerous chemicals and gases with a high global warming potential.

We are the next generation, and we will have to live somewhere. Currently, Mars is uninhabitable, so it is in our best interest to preserve the planet we have. By cracking the crust, we do not ensure a bright, viable future. Once a horizontal well is created, there is no way to fill the hole after the gas is extracted, and no way to save drinking water wells, aquifers, streams or earth soil from radiation and toxicity. Even if your plan B is Mars, don’t think you’ll escape the effects of releasing uranium and polonium into the atmosphere: Infertility, birth defects, cancer, lesions, respiratory infections and neurological symptoms have all been documented in people who live in close proximity to a fracking well.

As students, there are many options available to us to make our voices heard. The Earth and Sustainability group on campus works with the environment, and we could vote on legislation about banning fracking in the state. The option of writing our senators about our undesire to die young also has the potential to bring change.

Current grading system inhibits real learning by naomi forman Staff Writer

One of the most exciting rewards of graduating college: no more grades. Since an incredibly early age, students have been required to participate in an arbitrary and loathsome alphabetized achievement system. Though for some it is an irrelevant aspect of education, it can cause immense anxiety and tarnish the learning experience.

An institution as progressive, industrious and ingenious as DU should be more than able to re-envision its place of learning, designing a more productive and student-driven system of responsibility. Grade grubbers be damned, DU should pioneer a new form of assessment that eradicates letters and numbers, and establishes a qualitative evaluation of students on an individual basis.

Grades are intended to

motivate us and keep us accountable, and there is no denying they achieve this to a certain extent. However, they do not have a universally similar effect on individuals and can just as easily foster laziness or a frustration with education. Leonardo da Vinci said, “Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.”

So many of us proceed through the monotony of class; reading, writing, taking quizzes and so forth, yet within a quarter’s time cannot recall even the title of the course. Is something “learned” but not retained really learned at all?

Even without the issue of various learning styles, we need to discover a way of engaging students with material in a manner that contributes to genuine learning and overall academic and personal development. As Aristotle once

remarked, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” We need to awaken our hearts and minds together in the joys and the privilege of learning.

Through fewer requirements and more options, through personalization and creativity, and through studentteacher relationships, we can move in this direction. We need to eliminate standardized numerical grading and emphasize personal professor feedback.

Education should not be an allotted number of years that students are excited to escape.

Instead, having allocated time to study exclusively should be a celebrated personal investment.

Though I value the extracurricular and social opportunity found among the college experience and fully recognize this is a time for personal growth and discovery, the purpose of college

as an institute of higher learning is often drowned out.

As Frank Zappa, a famous American composer, musician and director, was quoted, “If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want to learn, go to the library.” Some of you are nodding your head; that is often what college seems to revolve around for many individuals. It is not to say that social, sexual, relational exploration is unhealthy or discouraged, nor that it cannot be done in tandem with academic integrity, yet it seems somewhat overemphasized.

The educational system needs to be restructured as a whole to empower students to fall in love with learning again. More attainable might be the re-crafting of our very own DU framework of academic achievement. It is time to ditch the grades and elevate

the importance of personal accountability and studentteacher mentorships.

Students should be able to engage with classes and material that have lasting impacts on their cognitive capabilities and their reservoir of knowledge. This should be offered to students without the utilization of what seem like passiveaggressive threats to our beloved GPA. Education should be about more than an arbitrary mark on a piece of paper or, more likely, a number on a screen. It is time to reexamine what we value and cultivate a system and a reciprocal accountability that reflects our appreciation for knowledge and the privilege of education.

Students and teachers alike need to find a mutually beneficial framework for more genuine learning. Let’s learn how to learn and, in doing so, teach a nation a new way.

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Editorial Board

Staff Writers Sawyer D’Argonne Naomi Forman

alex johnson lanna giauque

Editor-Elect

carli hansen

News Editor

camilla sterne

Lifestyles Editor

logan baker

Assistant Editor

Editor-in-Chief

kaitlynne birkett

Copy Chief

sarah ford

Managing Editor Digital Director

emma mckay

Opinions Editor

breanna demont

meg mcintyre

Contributing Editor

Entertainment Editor Social Media Director

gusto kubiak

Photography Editor calvin jouard

connor davis

Assistant Editor

Contributing Photographers Heather Kraft

Staff Photographers Emily Krebs

Sports Editor

paul heinen

Web Editor

Faculty Adviser

Andrew Matranga

Senior Reporters

Kaitlynne Birkett Isabel McCan Jillian Queri Brandon Tate

Contributing Writers

Katerina Arzhayev Kellsie Brannen Mae Birtch Makayla Cisneros Adam Lujan Courtney Luster Julia Mason Maddy Meredith Gigi Peccolo Evan Swaak

Online and Digital Sales Lead JD Arora

Advertising Representative Isa Almy

Advertising Manager

Adrienne Leonard

Business Manager

Roderick O’Dorisio

The Clarion is the official student publication of the University of Denver. It serves as the Voice of the Pioneers. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, the staff and/ or the administration. Reproduction of The Clarion in whole or part in any form written, broadcast or electronic without written permission of The Clarion is prohibited. The opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of The Clarion. Any photograph that has been substantially altered or staged for use as a graphic will be labled as a photo illustration.

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April 23, 2014

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An artistic baseball lifetime

15

GAME TALK

An avalanche of success The Clarion sports staff dives into the world of athletics.

sawyer d’argonne|clarion

Artist Kyle Banister poses with his work.

by sawyer d’argonne Staff Writer

“Everything came back to baseball,” Kyle Banister, former DU club baseball coach, said during an interview Friday afternoon. Though he is currently working on several murals for an assisted living center, preparing for the upcoming Denver Chalk Art Festival, and tending to several more irons in the fire, his message was clear: it always comes back to baseball.

Banister is a mixed media artist who has been specializing in baseball art for the past several years. He was recently commissioned to design and create a chalk art mural for the Colorado Rockies home opener, just one of many projects around Denver he is continuously working on.

His success as an artist has taken off in the last few years, although the journey was long as it was not until recently that he truly realized his dream of being an artist.

“It was always in me to do art.

Growing up everybody always courtesy of kyle banister tells you, your Banister’s chalk mural featured at the Rockies’ home opener. high school counated a score- hospice and be with dad. He selors, teacher, card featuring was fading in and out, but we other adults, your the likeness of had the game on, and whenever parents, about Rockie great they would break or come back starving artists.

Todd Helton.

They don’t mean from commercial they would S u c c e s s show my daughter and I doing to knock it, but in his abil- that Tulowitzki piece. Dad saw they want their ity to sustain it, so that was some validation. children to be himself as a You could tell that he had a cersuccessful,” said baseball artist tain amount of pride, and that Banister about his is one thing, was important to me.” beginnings as an but for Banartist. “The art was The game and his art have ister the most allowed Banister the opportutrying to get out, courtesy of kyle banister i m p o r t a n t nity to do amazing things and but I just kept Banister’s scorecard featuring the likeness of Todd Helton. things are the to meet amazing people. pushing it back.” life lessons and After graduBanister raved about his ation Banister promptly joined coach of 35 years, who upon impact that both baseball and experience in getting to sit the army, where his creative hearing his story helped to his art have made. down with the late Hall of Fame “To me, baseball is the broadcaster Jerry Coleman, and outlet took the form of painting facilitate a process which ended pinups on trucks. From there he with Banister painting all of the greatest metaphor for life there when he used to get to play ball moved to the automobile indus- fence signs at the now-defunct is,” said Banister. “Any emotion in a Rockies uniform at Coors you can experience, I’ve felt Field as a trainer at client battry where he designed adver- DU baseball field. tisements and lettered race-cars The connections did not on a baseball field. I’ve been to ting practices. for Subaru. He would then leave end there, however. After weddings on a baseball field.

His art has also allowed that business to build his own Denver shut down their base- I’ve been to a funeral on a base- him to work side by side with sign-making company. After 20 ball team in 1997, Banister ball field. I think I’ve seen more players such as ex-Bronco Karl years running the business, it coached for the club team, help- honest to goodness miracles on Mecklinburg, Gabriel Lanwas finally time for Banister to ing the “outlaw Pioneers” to a a baseball field than I’ve seen deskog of the Avalanche and exmake his dream a reality. conference championship game in a church. And I don’t mean Rockie Seth Smith at signings.

“I hit a couple bumps in in 1998 before becoming the score wise, or from behind. Just While baseball art has little things. Life lessons and clearly been great for Banister, the road, life wise, and the kids Denver Desperados. were all grown, so I said screw Banister no longer coaches, stuff. To me it’s a spiritual place.” he maintains that his greatest Banister revealed that this moment as an artist has yet to it, I’ll be an artist. I didn’t have but regardless, baseball and the any responsibility holding me art he does with it remains at the sentiment has carried over into come, like a journey man still back anymore.” center of his life. It has certainly his personal life many times, waiting on his perfect game. He A long-time Colorado began to pay dividends for Ban- including the death of his father. believes that it will eventually “The day my dad passed come though, as according to resident, Banister has his ister in the past couple of years. own roots at the University of Just two years ago he helped away we did the Tulowitzki Banister, it is something he will Denver. During his time as a Root Sports win an Emmy for piece for the Denver Art Festi- do until the day he dies. While sign maker Banister met Jack their broadcast, “Scoring the val,” said Banister. “We finished he lives, however, he lives a Rose, the former DU baseball Game,” in which Banister cre- at noon so I could go to the baseball life.

by sawyer d’argonne Staff Writer

There is a new energy coursing through the air in Denver lately.

On Thursday night, I had the pleasure of being present at the first Colorado Avalanche playoff game since the 2009-2010 season, and I’m happy to say that the Avs didn’t disappoint.

Down by two in the third period, Colorado led a desperate attack to try and fight their way back into the game. Jamie McGinn scored and helped to pull the Avs back into one, but things were starting to look dim for the Avs. First-year head coach Patrick Roy made the bold decision to pull goalie Semyon Varlamov with just over three minutes left to play, Erik Johnson made an unbelievable play to block an empty net goal that would have certainly been the dagger, and with just over 13 seconds left in regulation, DU’s very own Paul Stastny tied the game. All this before Stastny added his second goal of the game to get an important home win in overtime.

My point in romanticizing all of this is that Avalanche hockey hasn’t been this electrifying in some time.

The Avs had been rebuilding the last couple of seasons, which was made clear by their last place finish in the west in last year’s truncated 48-game season. As a result, former head coach Joe Sacco was sacked, and long-time Avalanche great and Hall of Famer Patrick Roy took over.

The move has clearly paid off for the Avs, as they have moved from last place to second in the West, only behind Anaheim.

The addition of Roy and rookie phenom Nathan MacKinnon, as well as Semyon Varlamov’s improved play and a number of other variables have helped Colorado turn the franchise in a new direction and has helped to return a hockey culture to Denver that it hasn’t seen since the early 2000’s.

This season has clearly been a success regardless of how Colorado ends up doing in their quest for their third Stanley Cup, seeing as they were the second worst team in the NHL last season.

The team’s new motto of “Why not us?” however, unquestionably shows that the team believes they are capable of hoisting the cup at the end of the year. Their play to this point in the season and early in the playoffs certainly affirms that sentiment.

SEE AVS, PAGE 16

April22, 23,2012 2014 May

16

www.duclarion.com

Martin finishes seventh www.duclarion.com at NCAA Championships Avs complete 16

April 23, 2014

emily krebs|clarion

Senior gymnast Moriah Martin.

by jillian queri Senior Reporter

Moriah Martin, Pioneer senior gymnast, placed 7th in the all-around event at the NCAA National Semifinal Championships last weekend.

This was Martin’s third and final year of competing at the NCAA National Championships. Last year, she finished 17th overall.

From the No. 17 Denver gymnastics team, Martin was the only Pioneer represented.

Earning a total score of 39.200, Martin is now the fifth gymnast in DU history to earn All-American honors.

With the final meet of her career complete, Martin is now retiring after being a part

of the gymnastics community pened, it was a crazy moment,” for 20 years. said Martin “I basically grew up in a Upon graduating this “Getting a gym,” Martin said. “It’s weird spring with a major in psychol10, it has to to think that after this meet ogy and a minor in business, I will be retired. It’s been my Martin plans to head home to be perfect. It whole life.”

Orlando to pursue a job in the This past year alone, music industry. was always my Martin earned Mountain “I am open to see where life goal, so when Rim Gymnastics Conference takes me,” said Martin. “I have (MRGC) Gymnast of the really enjoyed my time here. I am it finally hapWeek honors on three sepa- going to look back and have a lot pened it was rate occasions. of fond memories.”

Both of Martin’s parents With years in the gym now a crazy mowere gymnasts and at the age over for Martin, her last meet and of two, Martin’s mother was time competing was bittersweet. ment.” her first coach.

“This team is special,” During high school, said Martin. “I am very grateMoriah Martin, Martin ruptured her Achil- ful for everything my coaches les tendon doing an Arabian and teammates have done for senior gymnast Double on floor, which is now me over the years.” one of Martin’s favorite skills. Due to her injury, Martin took off three years of competing, but came back her senior year and was recruited

by Denver.

“I came for a visit and I loved the gymnastics program, the school and the city of Denver.”

Competing in allaround, Martin is proficient in each event but has had most of her success on vault. Last year as a junior, Martin scored a perfect 10.00 on vault against Michigan State.

“Getting a 10, it has to be perfect. It had gusto kubiak|clarion always been my goal Senior gymnast Moriah Martin (front right) huddles with teammates before a meet earlier this year. so when it finally hap-

sports scene

Continued from page 15 The atmosphere around the city also attests to the confidence in the team. At DU, we are used to our fair share of hockey excitement, as we’ve seen postseason tournament play in all of the last seven seasons.

This stretches further.

The Stanley Cup is an intoxicating prospect, and premature visions of Roy and the rest of the team parading down the road hoisting it in the air are already beginning to develop.

The Pepsi Center has seemingly never been louder, and the city seems to be rallying around the team, with jerseys on every corner and social networking cites blowing up with Avs chatter.

For the time being, Denver is one of the best sports cities in the nation. The Broncos won their conference this year before being defeated in the Super Bowl.

The Nuggets, despite their struggles this year, have been one of the most consistently good teams in the NBA the last decade, their streak of 10 straight playoff appearances being snapped this year.

Now the Avalanche’s emergence as a legitimate contender, again marks a special time in Denver sports history, where enthusiasm and anticipation for hockey matches that of the other sports in the area.

Senior Jackson earns MVP honors as rugby team heads to Nationals by jillian queri Senior Reporter

DU senior Jace Jackson has taken the rugby field by storm.

Finishing off the 2014 season as MVP of the Pacific West Championship, Jackson led the Pioneers to multiple victories throughout the season.

The 3rd-ranked Pios currently have a 13-1 record as they head to the National Championships. This is the second undefeated regular season that the Pioneers have had since the rugby team was founded in 1968.

Beginning his rugby career four years ago as a freshman, Jackson fell in love with the sport from the start.

“I initially chose rugby freshman year because I was impressed with the team dynamic,” Jackson said. “The rugby team seemed like the closest-knit group on campus, and I wanted to be a part of it. I have since fallen in love with the sport of rugby, and [if my body allows it] I plan on playing for the rest of my life,” said Jackson.

In high school, Jackson played

lacrosse, football and also wrestled.

Prior to DU, he had never experienced the game of rugby.

“What specifically got me into rugby was the fact that it is a culmination of the sports I played growing up.

It has the aggression of football, with the tactical physicality of wrestling and the uninterrupted flow of lacrosse,” said Jackson.

As loose-head prop, Jackson plays on the outside of the scrum.

“My favorite thing about rugby is the fact that it is the most honest sport,” Jackson said. “There are no superstars in this game; there are great athletes and great leaders, but it truly takes the synergy of all 15 players to achieve a victory. It’s a pure team sport where 99 percent of the time, the better team comes out with a win. It is more about the chemistry between players than the ability that each individual brings. Each of the 15 players provides a crucial piece of the puzzle, which is a beautifully unique aspect of our game.”

Jackson will be receiving a double major in international business and

Fast Break

a brief recap of recent DU sports

Men’s Lacrosse Recently: Extended win streak to eight after beating Providence 14-6, improve to 11-2 overall.

What’s next: LAST HOME game vs.

Marquette on Saturday @ 12 p.m.

Women’s Lacrosse Recently: Beat Old Dominion 18-6 on Senior Day to improve to 15-1 overall, 8-0 in conference play.

What’s next: Away vs. Oregon on Friday, final game of regular season.

marketing when he graduates in the spring. With his post-college future rapidly approaching, Jackson hopes to stay in Denver, get married to his fiancé and pursue playing for a premier league rugby team in the Denver area.

As a club team, the Pioneer rugby program has been hoping for more field space to practice on over the years and with the recent opening of the Diane Wendt Sports Field, this dream was finally fulfilled.

“Another great memory was the recent dedication ceremony of the new Diane Wendt Sports Field. Our team attended and had the pleasure of personally thanking Chancellor Coombe, Joy Burns, Dan Ritchie and other donors who made the fields possible,” said Jackson.

After winning the Pacific West Championship, Jackson and the team are now preparing for the National Championships on April 26 and 27 at 1 p.m. Hosted at Infinity Park in Glendale, DU rugby is arranging buses and giving tickets to 100 DU students to attend the championship match.

Women’s Tennis Recently: Defeated Nebraska Omaha 7-0 in final regular season match.

What’s next: HOME @ Summit League Championships on Fri.-Sun. Men’s Tennis Recently: Earned 6-1 team victory over Fort Wayne.

“Coming out of a close victory in the Pacific West Championship last year allowed us to be better prepared and better poised for our presence in the tournament this year,” said Jackson.

“Over the two games, we put up a combined 93 points on two top 20 ranked teams, which is always a good time. But there is still work to do. As our head coach says, it was ‘just another day in the office’ for our team. Winning the Pacific West Championship is just a stepping stone on our journey to the National Championship.”

The National Championship will be Jackson’s final match as a Pioneer.

“My life has been changed forever because of rugby,” said Jackson. “I’ve played on teams all my life, but the rugby team here at DU is more than a team—it’s a brotherhood. When you fight and bleed alongside someone for a common purpose, it creates a special bond. DU rugby is such a fantastic group of young men. These are the guys who will be standing with me at my wedding. They will be walking with me through life.

What’s next: HOME Regional Championships May 15-17. @ Summit League Championships, Fri.Sun. Women’s Golf Recently: Leading by 24 strokes after Men’s Golf Round 1 of Summit Recently: Leading League Championby 4 strokes after ships, with top four Round 1 of play at spots all belonging Summit League to Pioneers.

Championships.

What’s next: NCAA Patrick Frodigh sits Regional Championin 2nd place.

What’s next: NCAA ships May 15-17.